After school disclosure

Here's what you can text back, plus what you should do on your end. ## What to tell the group leader right now **1. Stay calm and stay warm with the child.** If the child is still there, the leader doesn't need to push. Something simple like: > "Thank you for telling me. You're not in trouble. I'm here if you want to talk more, today or any day." **2. Don't question or dig.** It's natural to want to ask "What's happening? Who's hurting you?" but leading questions can upset the child and complicate any later investigation. Open, gentle invitations are fine ("Do you want to tell me more?"), but if the child says no, respect it. **3. Don't promise secrecy.** If the child asks her to keep it secret, the leader should say kindly: "I can't promise that, because if someone's not safe, I need to get help from people whose job is to help kids." **4. Write it down now, while it's fresh.** Exact words the child used (quotes, not interpretation), date, time, what prompted it, the child's demeanor, and anything else observed (injuries, hunger, fear about going home, changes in behavior). Facts only, no guesses. **5. Don't contact the parents about this.** If something harmful is happening at home, alerting the family could put the child at greater risk. **6. Keep it confidential.** Only share with you and whoever your protocol designates. Not other staff casually, not other parents. ## What you need to do **Check for immediate danger.** Is the child afraid to go home today? Did she mention being hurt, or is there visible injury? If yes, call 911 or your local child protective services hotline now, before pickup. **Follow your program's reporting policy.** Most after-school staff are mandated reporters (this varies by state/country, but youth program staff usually are). The standard for reporting is *reasonable suspicion*, not proof. "Things are bad at home" plus silence may or may not meet that bar on its own, so: - If there are any other concerning signs, make a report. - If you're unsure, **call your CPS hotline and consult.** They regularly take calls from people asking "Is this reportable?" and will guide you. You don't have to decide alone. (In the US, the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is 1-800-422-4453 if you don't know your local number.) **Know who reports.** In many places, the person who heard the disclosure has an individual duty to report, and telling a supervisor doesn't fully satisfy it. Make sure the leader knows she can and may need to make the call herself, with your support. **Plan follow-up.** Have the leader (or another trusted adult) check in with the child gently over the next days, keep observing, and document anything new. "Bad at home" could mean anything from divorce or money stress to neglect or abuse, and more may come out once the child feels safe. ## Support the leader too She's probably rattled. Let her know she did the right thing by reaching out, and that the child chose her because she's trusted. Give her a chance to debrief with you afterward. If you tell me your location or what your program's policy says, I can help you figure out the specific reporting steps.

This is a situation where staying calm and following a clear process matters most. Here's what you can tell her. ## Right now **If there's any sign the child is in immediate danger** (injuries, fear of going home today, mention of violence or threats), don't let her leave with anyone until you've called 911 or your local emergency number. **Otherwise, stay with the child and keep it low-key:** - **Don't push for details or interrogate.** Gentle, open invitations are fine: "I'm glad you told me. If you ever want to talk more, I'm here." Leading questions like "Is someone hurting you?" can upset the child and complicate any later investigation. - **Don't promise to keep it secret.** If it comes up, say something like "My job is to help keep you safe, so I might need to tell someone whose job is to help." - **Reassure her:** She did the right thing by telling someone, and she's not in trouble. - **Keep her routine normal.** Let her rejoin activities if she wants, and keep a caring eye on her. ## Before the end of the day 1. **Write down exactly what was said**, in the child's own words, plus the time, date, context, and any observations (mood, behavior, visible marks). Stick to facts, not interpretations. 2. **Tell you or the program's designated safeguarding/child protection lead right away.** Don't wait until tomorrow. 3. **Don't contact the parents or confront anyone at home** about this. If something harmful is happening, that could put the child at greater risk. ## What you do as the supervisor - **Check your program's child protection policy** and your local mandated reporting laws. In many places, staff at youth programs are mandated reporters, and the duty is often on the individual who heard it, not just the organization. - **If you're unsure whether this meets the threshold, call and ask.** "Things are bad at home" alone is vague, but you don't need proof to make a report, only reasonable suspicion. Child protective services or a hotline can help you decide. In the US, the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-422-4453) can advise and connect you with your local CPS. - **When in doubt, report.** Let trained investigators determine what's going on. That's their job, not yours. - **Follow up with your staff member.** This can be stressful for her too. Let her know she handled it well by bringing it to you. ## A short text you could send her > "Thanks for telling me right away, you did the right thing. Don't push her for details, just let her know she's not in trouble and you're glad she told you. Don't promise to keep it secret, and don't mention anything to whoever picks her up. Write down exactly what she said and when, in her words, as soon as you can. I'll call you in a few minutes and we'll figure out next steps, including whether we need to make a report. If she says anything suggesting she's unsafe going home today, call me immediately." Would it help to talk through what to do if the child says more, or how to make a report in your area?

Here's what to tell her. You can send it as-is or adapt it: --- **What to text back:** > Thanks for telling me right away. You did the right thing. Here's what to do now: > > 1. **Is she safe right now?** If she seems hurt, scared to go home, or in danger tonight, tell me immediately. We may need to call 911 or child protective services before pickup. > 2. **Don't push for more details.** Let her know you heard her and she can talk to you anytime. Something like: "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you did. I'm here if you want to talk more." > 3. **Don't promise to keep it a secret.** If she asks, say: "I might need to tell someone whose job is to help keep kids safe." > 4. **Write down exactly what she said**, in her words, plus the time, date, and who was there. Don't add guesses about what she meant. > 5. **Don't bring it up with her parents or caregivers** until we've talked. > 6. **Stay calm and treat her normally** for the rest of the program. > > Can you call me when you get a chance? We'll figure out next steps together. --- **What you need to do on your end:** - **Check your reporting duty.** In most U.S. states, after-school staff are mandated reporters. You usually don't need proof to report, only a reasonable concern. If you're unsure whether this meets your state's threshold, call your state's child abuse hotline and describe what happened. They can tell you. - **Follow your organization's child safety policy.** If you have a designated safeguarding lead or director, loop them in today. - **Get guidance if you need it.** The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is **1-800-422-4453** (call or text, 24/7). They talk with adults who aren't sure what to do, not just kids. - **Support your group leader.** This can be hard to carry. Check in with her after. "Bad at home" could mean a lot of things, from family stress to something more serious. Your leader doesn't have to figure out which. Her job is to listen, write it down, and pass it on, and she's already doing that.

Here's what to tell her. You can copy the short version straight into a text. ## Short version to text her > Thanks for telling me right away. You did the right thing. For now: > - Don't push her to say more. Keep things calm and normal. > - If you get a quiet moment, tell her: "Thanks for telling me. I'm here if you want to talk, today or any day." > - Don't promise to keep it secret. If it comes up, say: "If I'm worried about your safety, I might need to get help from another grown-up." > - Write down exactly what she said, when, and who was there. Use her words, not your guesses. > - Don't contact her parents or anyone at home about it. > - If she says anything that sounds like she's in danger, tell me right away. If it's an emergency, call 911. > > I'll follow up on next steps today. ## What you should do next 1. **Check your program's child safety or reporting policy.** It usually says who handles this and how. 2. **Know your reporting duty.** In many places, after-school staff are mandated reporters. The standard is usually *reasonable suspicion* of abuse or neglect, not proof. "Things are bad at home" on its own may or may not meet that bar. It depends on context. 3. **If you're unsure, call to consult.** You can call your state or county child protective services hotline and describe what was said. They can tell you whether it should be a report. In the U.S., the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-422-4453) can also advise and connect you to your local agency. 4. **Don't investigate yourself.** Neither you nor the leader should question the child for details. That's the job of trained professionals if it gets that far. 5. **Check in with the leader.** This can be stressful for staff. Let her know she handled it well by coming to you. ## Keep in mind "Bad at home" can mean many things, like parents fighting, money stress, a sick family member, or something more serious. You don't need to figure out which one it is. Your job is to stay steady for her, write down what you know, and follow your reporting process. Would you like help writing a short note for her file or a script for the leader if the child brings it up again?

## What to tell the group leader **1. If the child seems in immediate danger, or is afraid to go home, call 911.** Do not send her home until you've spoken with someone. **2. Stay near her and keep things calm.** Let her know she can talk anytime: "Thank you for telling me. I'm here if you want to say more." Then let her be. **3. Do not push for details.** No questions about who, what, or when. She said what she was ready to say. **4. Do not promise to keep it secret.** If she asks, the leader can say: "I might need to tell someone whose job is to help keep kids safe." **5. Do not contact the family** about what she said. **6. Write down her exact words now,** with the time and who was there. Write only what she said and did, not guesses about what it means. **7. Tell you or the designated child safety lead today,** before pickup if possible. ## What you do next - **Follow your organization's child safety and mandated reporting policy.** In most states, after-school staff are mandated reporters. You don't need proof to report a concern. - **If you're unsure whether this meets the bar for a report,** call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at **1-800-422-4453** (call or text). They can talk it through with you and connect you to your local child protective services. - **Keep this private.** Share only with the people who need to know. Avoid group chats. ## A text you can send her now > Thanks for telling me. Stay with her and keep things calm. Let her know she can talk to you anytime, but don't ask questions or promise to keep it secret. Don't contact her family. Write down exactly what she said and when. If you think she's in danger right now or she's scared to go home, call 911. I'll call you in a few minutes to sort out next steps. ## Later this week Check in with the group leader once things settle. Hearing something like this is hard, and she handled the first step well by reaching out. ## Numbers - **Immediate danger:** 911 - **Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline:** 1-800-422-4453 (call or text) - **Your local child protective services:** [add number]

# What to tell your group leader You can send this to her as written: > Thank you for telling me. Here's what to do right now: > 1. Stay calm and stay nearby. Keep her in your group or somewhere she feels comfortable. > 2. Don't ask for more details. If she wants to talk, listen. Something like "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you did" is enough. > 3. Don't promise to keep it a secret. If she asks, you can say "I might need to tell someone whose job is to help keep kids safe." > 4. Write down her exact words, the time, and who was there, as soon as you can. Don't add guesses. > 5. Don't contact her family or mention this to them at pickup. > 6. Tell me right away if she says anything more, seems afraid to go home, or has any injury. > > I'm handling the next steps. You did the right thing. # What you do next 1. **If she may be in danger right now** (she's afraid to go home, mentions being hurt, or has visible injuries), call 911 before pickup. 2. **Follow your organization's child safety or mandated reporting policy.** In many states, after-school staff are mandated reporters. A report goes to your state's child protective services hotline. You don't need proof, only a reasonable concern. 3. **If you're unsure whether this meets the bar for a report,** call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (call or text). They can help you think it through and connect you to your state's reporting line. 4. **Loop in your program director or supervisor** today, not tomorrow. # What not to do right now - Don't question the child further or have anyone else interview her. - Don't try to figure out what's happening at home yourself. - Don't share details with other staff, volunteers, or families beyond who needs to know. # After today - Make sure the leader's written notes are saved somewhere secure. - Check in with her tomorrow. This kind of moment can stay with staff. A short debrief with you or your supervisor helps. # Numbers - **Emergency:** 911 - **Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline:** 1-800-422-4453 (call or text) - **Your state's child protective services line:** check your program's safety policy

Here's what I'd tell her. **Right now** - **Don't push.** No probing questions, and nothing that suggests an answer ("Is someone hurting you?"). If the moment comes up again, she can say something like: *"I'm really glad you told me. You're not in trouble. I'm here if you want to talk more."* - **Don't promise secrecy.** If the child asks, she can say, "I might need to talk to someone whose job is to help keep kids safe." - **Don't contact the parents** or try to investigate. That can put the child at more risk and complicate any official inquiry. - **Keep things normal** and warm with her. Let her know the door is open without making it a big moment. **Write it down today** - The child's exact words, in quotes - Date, time, and what was happening beforehand - The child's demeanor (quiet, tearful, withdrawn) - Any other observations, like changes in behavior, hygiene, hunger, or injuries - Facts only, no interpretation **Report it** - Loop in you or the program's designated safeguarding person right away. - In most places, after-school staff are mandated reporters. The threshold is usually *reasonable suspicion*, not proof. "Bad at home" is vague, but it's still worth reporting or at least consulting on. If you're unsure, call your local child protective services hotline. They'll tell you whether it meets the threshold, and you don't need certainty to call. - If the child is in immediate danger or afraid to go home today, call 911 or CPS right away rather than waiting. - Follow your organization's written policy, and check what your state or country requires. **Afterward** - Keep the information limited to people who need to know. - Have the leader check in casually with the child in the following days, and note any new comments or changes. - Check in with the leader too. This is stressful, and she did the right thing by telling someone. **A text you could send her:** > "You did the right thing telling me. Don't press her for more. Write down exactly what she said and when, just the facts. I'm going to [contact the designated person/CPS] and I'll call you shortly. If she says more, just listen, stay calm, and tell her you're glad she told you." If you tell me your location, I can help you find the reporting requirements and hotline number.

Here's what I'd tell her: **Right now** - **Don't push.** No probing or "what do you mean?" questions. Pressing can make a kid shut down for good. She can say something like: *"Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you did. I'm here if you want to talk more, now or later."* - **Stay warm and normal.** Let the child know she's not in trouble and that telling was the right thing to do. Don't act alarmed. - **Don't promise secrecy.** If the child asks her to keep it between them, she can say: *"I care about you, and I might need to talk to someone whose job is to help keep kids safe."* - **Don't ask leading questions, investigate, or contact the parents.** That can make things worse for the child and complicate any later investigation. **Today** 1. **Write it down** while it's fresh: the child's exact words, the context, what prompted it, her demeanor, and the time and date. Stick to facts and quotes, not interpretations. 2. **Report it through your channels.** If you have a designated safeguarding lead or child protection policy, follow it. Most after-school staff are mandated reporters, which means they may be legally required to report concerns, even vague ones, to child protective services or the police. They don't need proof, only reasonable concern. If you're unsure of your obligations, call your local child protective services line and describe what happened. They can advise whether it meets the threshold. 3. **If the child seems in immediate danger** (fear of going home, visible injuries, a disclosure of violence or abuse), call 911 or your local emergency number. Don't wait. **Other things to keep in mind** - "Bad at home" could mean many things, such as conflict, a divorce, a parent's job loss, or illness. It could also mean abuse or neglect. Neither of you has to figure out which. That's what trained professionals are for. - She should keep this confidential and share it only with those who need to know. - Check in with the child afterward in low-key ways, like a smile or a friendly word, so she knows the door is still open. - The group leader may feel shaken. Check in with her too, and remind her she did the right thing by not freezing and by reaching out. If you tell me your location or type of organization, I can help point you to the right reporting line or draft a short incident note.

Tell her she did the right thing by listening, and that the next step is to follow your organization's child safety procedure. She doesn't need to figure this out alone or investigate. **What to tell the leader** 1. **Write down what happened today.** Record the child's exact words ("bad at home"), when and where she said it, what led up to it, and how she acted afterward. Stick to what was said and seen, not guesses about what it means. 2. **Don't press for details.** Asking questions or probing can make a child shut down, and it can complicate any later process. If the child brings it up again, she can listen, say "Thank you for telling me," and say "I'm glad you told me." 3. **Don't promise to keep it secret.** If the child asks, she can say, "I might need to talk to someone whose job is to help keep kids safe." 4. **Pass it to the right person today.** That means your designated safeguarding lead, program director, or supervisor. If you are that person, you take the next step. 5. **Follow your reporting policy.** Many staff and volunteers who work with children are legally required to report concerns, and the rules vary by state or country. If you're unsure whether this meets the threshold, call your local child protective services line or your organization's legal contact and ask. You can describe what you know without having proof. 6. **If she thinks the child is in immediate danger,** she should call emergency services (911 in the US). 7. **Treat it as confidential.** Only people who need to know should hear about it. **A text you could send her** > Thank you for telling me, and for handling it so calmly. Please don't ask her more questions. Write down exactly what she said and what you saw, with the date and time, and send it to me today. I'll take it to [name/role] and we'll follow our child safety process. If you think she's in danger right now, call 911. You did the right thing, and you're not on your own with this. **For you** - Check in with the leader afterward. These moments can be stressful for staff too. - Let the child's regular routine at the program continue. Keep it a place where she feels welcome and comfortable. If you tell me your location and whether you have a written child safety policy, I can help you find the right reporting line or draft a short incident note.

Here is what to tell her, in order of importance. **1. Don't press the child.** Her not saying more is okay. The leader should not ask lots of questions or try to get details. Pushing can make a child shut down. What helps most is staying warm and steady. **2. Let the child know she was heard.** If the leader gets a natural moment, she can say something like: "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you did. I'm here if you want to talk more." She should not promise to keep it secret. **3. Write it down today.** - The child's exact words ("bad at home") - Date, time, and what was happening when she said it - What the leader said back - Anything the leader noticed, described plainly (for example, "she went quiet and looked down") Facts only, with no guesses about what is happening at home. **4. Report it to the right person now.** She should tell your program's designated child safety contact or her supervisor today, following your child protection policy. If you are that person, you decide next steps. "Bad at home" could mean many things, so don't assume. But staff in most places are mandated reporters, and the threshold is usually reasonable concern, not proof. If you're unsure, call your local child protective services line and describe what was said. They can advise whether it needs a report. **5. Call 911 if there is immediate danger.** That means the child says she is afraid to go home tonight, or there are signs of injury or an emergency. **6. Don't contact the family.** The leader should not confront or question the parents or caregivers about this. **7. Keep things normal and stay available.** The leader should keep greeting her the same way and keep the routine steady. Small check-ins help, such as "Good to see you today." A text you could send her: > Thanks for telling me. You did the right thing. Don't ask her more questions. Write down exactly what she said, with the date and time. Send me that note today. I'll make sure the right person follows up. If you ever think she's in danger right away, call 911. If she brings it up again, just listen and let her know you're glad she told you. Adjust the "I'll make sure" line to match who handles this at your organization. If you have a written child protection policy, check it for reporting steps and timelines.

**Here is what to tell her:** 1. **If the child seems in immediate danger, or says she is not safe to go home tonight, call 911.** 2. **Stay calm and stay available.** If the child comes back to it, she can say: "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you did. I'm here if you want to talk more." If the child stays quiet, that is okay. Do not push. 3. **Do not ask probing or leading questions.** No "Did someone hurt you?" or "What's happening?" Let the child share only what she chooses. 4. **Do not promise to keep it secret.** If the child asks, she can say: "I may need to talk to someone whose job is to help keep kids safe." 5. **Write down what happened today.** Include the date, time, and the child's exact words ("bad at home"), and what she did afterward. Do not add guesses or conclusions. 6. **Tell the supervisor or safeguarding lead today.** Staff in youth programs are often mandated reporters, so the leader should follow your organization's reporting policy. If you are not sure whether a report is required, call the hotline below and ask. 7. **Do not contact the family or try to investigate.** That is for the people trained to do it. 8. **Keep things normal for the child.** Same routine, same welcome. A steady, friendly adult matters. 9. **Check in with the leader.** Hearing something like this is hard. Let her know she did the right thing by listening and by reaching out to you. **A text you can send her:** > You did the right thing by listening and telling me. Please write down exactly what she said, with the date and time. Don't ask her more questions. I'm going to loop in [supervisor name] today, and we'll follow our reporting steps together. If she seems in danger right now, call 911. I'm here. **Who to call:** - Immediate danger: **911** - Child abuse hotline, for advice on whether and how to report (call or text, 24/7): **Childhelp, 1-800-422-4453** - Your supervisor or safeguarding lead: **[number]** - For the leader, if she needs support: **988** (call or text) or Crisis Text Line, text **HOME to 741741** Keep the details private. Share them only with the people who need them to respond.

**Send her this:** > You did the right thing by listening. Here's what to do now: > > 1. **If she seems in danger right now, or says she's afraid to go home, call 911.** > 2. **Don't ask her for more details.** If she brings it up again, listen. Say: "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you did." Don't promise to keep it secret. > 3. **Write down what happened today.** Include her exact words, the time, and what you said. Stick to facts, not guesses. > 4. **Tell [supervisor / safeguarding lead] today,** before she goes home if you can. Staff are usually required to report concerns like this. Your supervisor will help decide the next step. You don't need proof. > 5. **Don't contact her family or ask anyone at home about it.** That can raise the risk for her. > 6. **Keep it private.** Share only with the people who need to know. > > Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 (call or text, 24/7). They can talk you through reporting. > > Call me anytime after you've talked to your supervisor. This is a lot to carry, and you're not doing it alone. **For you:** - Make sure she actually reaches the supervisor today. If you are the supervisor, follow your child-protection policy and your state's reporting rules. If you're unsure whether to report, Childhelp can advise. - Check in with the leader afterward. If she's shaken, 988 (call or text) is available to her too. - Fill in the number and name before you send it. **If anyone is in immediate danger: 911.** **Childhelp: 1-800-422-4453.**

Tell her to **call you now** (not just text), keep the child supervised and in a calm, normal routine, and **not interrogate the child**. “Things are bad at home” is a possible safety concern; she should not investigate it herself. **Tell the leader:** 1. **Stay calm and thank the child.** Say: *“Thank you for telling me. That sounds really hard. You’re not in trouble. I’m glad you told me, and I’m going to get help from the person whose job is to keep kids safe.”* Do **not** promise secrecy. Do **not** say “I won’t tell anyone.” 2. **Don’t ask leading or detailed questions.** If the child wants to talk, listen and use only minimal prompts: *“Can you tell me more?”* or *“What happened?”* If she goes quiet, don’t pressure her. Offer calm presence: *“You can tell me as much or as little as you want. I’m here.”* 3. **Assess immediate safety.** If the child is in immediate danger, says someone is going to hurt her, or it’s unsafe for her to go home, call **911/emergency services** and keep her supervised. Do not send her home into an immediate danger situation. 4. **Document exactly what happened.** Write down the child’s **exact words** (“things are bad at home”), time, setting, who was present, and what happened after—including that she got quiet and didn’t elaborate. Do not paraphrase or add interpretation. 5. **Notify you/designated child protection lead immediately.** Follow your program’s child protection/mandated reporting policy. If the leader is a mandated reporter, confirm whether she must make the report herself or whether you do it. If unsure whether it meets threshold, **call the child protection hotline/consult line and let them screen it**—don’t decide alone. 6. **Do not contact the parents/caregivers yet** unless your policy clearly requires it and there is no risk that doing so would endanger the child or interfere with an investigation. Let the supervisor/authorities decide. 7. **Keep confidentiality to need-to-know only.** Don’t discuss with other staff or parents. **What you should do as supervisor:** call the leader, get the exact quote and timeline, confirm the child is safe and supervised, consult your agency’s child protection protocol, and make/confirm the mandated report within the required timeframe. Support the leader afterward—these disclosures are stressful. A good text back to her: *“Call me now. Don’t question her further—just stay calm, keep her supervised, and write down her exact words and what happened. If she’s in immediate danger, call 911. I’ll help you with the next steps.”*

Tell the leader to **take it seriously but not investigate**. Call her if possible; text is okay only to give immediate instructions. **Text/call her now:** > “Thanks for telling me. Please stay calm and stay with her if you can. Don’t ask for details, don’t promise secrecy, and don’t contact the parents yet. Say something like: ‘Thank you for telling me. I’m glad you did. You’re not in trouble. I need to tell [supervisor/designated person] so we can help keep you safe.’ Write down her exact words and what happened. Tell me where you are and whether she is safe right now. I’m contacting [designated safeguarding lead] now. Don’t send her home alone or release her until we consult.” **What the leader should do:** - Stay calm and warm; keep the child supervised in a normal routine. - Ask only minimal safety questions: “Are you safe right now?” “Do you need help right now?” - Do **not** interview, ask “what happened,” ask leading questions, take photos, or promise confidentiality. - If the child asks her not to tell: “I can’t keep secrets about safety, but I’ll only tell people whose job is to help keep kids safe.” - Document verbatim: date/time, exact words (“bad at home”), behavior, who was present, what leader said, actions taken. - If there is **immediate danger**—child says someone will hurt her, she’s afraid to go home, visible injury, etc.—call emergency services/child protection immediately and don’t release her to an unsafe adult. **What you do:** - Notify your designated safeguarding/child protection lead or director **immediately**. If you are that person, call your local child protective services hotline for consultation/report. In the U.S., program staff are usually mandated reporters; “bad at home” plus withdrawal is enough to follow protocol, not to investigate yourself. - Do **not** call the parents to “ask about it” before consulting, especially if a parent/caregiver may be the source of harm. - Follow your release policy: if the child may be unsafe going home, keep her supervised and let the designated lead/authorities handle release. - Keep information need-to-know only. **Tell the leader:** “You did the right thing by flagging it. Your job is not to find out what happened—it’s to keep her safe, document, and pass it to the proper person immediately.”

**What to tell her, in short:** thank her for flagging it, tell her not to ask follow-up questions, and tell her to write down exactly what the child said and get it to you today. Here's a message you can send as-is: > Thanks for telling me right away — that was the right call. A few things for today: > > 1. Don't ask her more about it. Don't try to find out what's happening at home. If she brings it up again, listen, and say something like "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you did. I'm going to make sure the right people know so you can get help." Don't promise to keep it between the two of you. > 2. Write down what she said, as close to her exact words as you can remember, plus the time, the place, and who else was around. Send it to me today while it's fresh. > 3. Keep her day normal. She's in your group this afternoon — same routine, same warmth, no special treatment that would single her out. > 4. Don't say anything to her family or anyone else about this. That's my job, and I'll handle it with our supervisor. > > I know this is a lot to carry. Check in with me before you leave today. **For you:** - **Loop in your supervisor today, not tomorrow.** Whether this becomes a report to child protective services depends on your state's mandated reporter law and your organization's policy. That's a decision to make with your supervisor, not on your own, and not by the group leader. - **Don't wait for more information.** "Bad at home" plus going quiet is enough to start the process. You don't need the child to confirm anything, and you shouldn't try to get her to. - **Keep the note verbatim.** Her exact words matter more than your interpretation of them. Don't add conclusions about the family to the record. - **Protect the leader too.** She's likely shaken. Give her a clear next step and a person to talk to, and don't leave her holding the decision.

Good that she told you, and good that she didn't push the child to keep talking. Here's what I'd send her. **What to tell the group leader** *Right now, with the child:* - Stay calm and warm. Don't look alarmed or upset — that's what teaches a kid to stop talking. - Don't ask for details or ask leading questions ("Did someone hit you?" "Is it your dad?"). If the child offers more, listen. If not, let it be. - Use open, non-directive responses: "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you did." "You can tell me more if you want to, and you don't have to." - Don't promise secrecy. If it comes up, say something like: "I'm glad you told me. I have to tell someone who can help keep you safe — and I'll be here with you." - Don't say anything negative about the family. The child may still love them, and it can shut the conversation down. - Keep the rest of the day normal. The child may want routine more than attention. *Right after:* - Write down what happened as soon as she can, in the child's own words where she remembers them, plus the date, time, and who was present. Facts only — what was said and done, not what she thinks it means. - Get it to you the same day. She doesn't have to decide whether it's abuse or not; that's not her call to make, and she shouldn't try to investigate. - Don't call the family about this. Not yet, and not without direction from you and your supervisor — a call home can put a child at risk. *What you do next:* - Follow your organization's mandated reporting policy and your state's requirements. If you're unsure whether this crosses the threshold, call your state child abuse hotline and ask — that consult is free and doesn't commit you to a report. - Loop in your supervisor today. - Check in with the leader tomorrow. Hearing something like this stays with people, and she may need to talk it through. One thing to hold in mind: "bad at home" is a signal, not a conclusion. It might be abuse, and it might be a parent's illness, a fight, an eviction, or something else entirely. Don't build a story around it — record what was said and let the process do its job. Want me to draft this as a short message you can forward to her?

Here's a message you can send her as-is. --- Thanks for telling me right away. You did the right thing by reaching out. Here's what to do now. 1. **Stay with her and stay calm.** Keep her in a supervised space with another adult nearby. Don't send her home alone or with someone new until we've talked. 2. **Don't ask more questions about home.** You don't need details, and repeated questioning can be hard on a child. If she brings it up, say something like: "Thank you for telling me. That was brave. I'm going to get help from people whose job is to keep kids safe." 3. **Don't promise to keep it secret.** If you already did, that's okay — tell her now: "I said I wouldn't tell, and I need to change that, because keeping you safe is my job. I'll only tell people who can help." 4. **Write down exactly what she said, in her words.** "Things are bad at home," plus the time, the place, and who was there. Don't add interpretation. Send it to me within the hour. 5. **Don't call the family yet.** I'll handle that decision with our director. A call from us before we've made a report can sometimes make things less safe for the child. 6. **Call me when you've done steps 1–4.** I'll make the report and stay with you through it. You are not deciding whether to report — that's my call and mine to carry. After she's safe and the report is in, I'll check in with you. Hearing something like this stays with people. That's normal, and it's worth talking about. **Numbers:** - Me: [your number] - If a child is in immediate danger: **911** - Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (24/7, confidential, can talk you through a report): **1-800-422-4453** - If you're struggling after this: **988**, call or text --- Two things for you, not for her: check your state's mandated reporter requirements and your organization's policy before you decide who files — usually it's the person who received the disclosure, but your policy may route it through you. And document your own report the same day.

Here is what to send her. Short, calm, and in order. **Right now, with the child** 1. Stay calm and stay with her. Your face and voice matter more than your words. 2. Thank her for telling you. Say something like: "Thank you for telling me. That was brave. I'm glad you told me." 3. Tell her she is not in trouble and not to blame. Say: "This is not your fault." 4. Do not ask her to explain more. Do not ask "what happened," "who did it," or "why." If she keeps talking, let her. Write down her exact words afterward, not during. 5. Do not promise to keep it secret. If she asks, say: "I can't keep this a secret, because my job is to help keep you safe. I'll tell you what happens next." 6. Tell her what happens next, plainly: "I'm going to talk to my supervisor, who helps with this. You didn't do anything wrong." 7. Keep her in a normal, supervised space until pickup or the end of program. Do not send her home early or change the routine in a way that signals something is wrong. **What not to do** - Do not investigate. You are not the investigator, and questioning can harm the case and the child. - Do not call the family before you and I talk. - Do not discuss it with other staff, other parents, or in front of other kids. - Do not tell her she'll be taken away, or promise she won't be. **What you do, tonight** 1. Write down what she said, word for word, as close as you can remember. Note the time, the place, and who else was present. Facts only, no interpretation. 2. Call me. If you can't reach me, call [on-call supervisor number]. 3. We will make the report together. As a mandated reporter you may be required to report to child protective services yourself, and I will walk you through it. Do not wait until morning if she is in danger tonight. 4. Keep your notes private and give them to me. **Afterward** Check in with me before your next shift. Hearing something like this stays with you, and you don't have to carry it alone. **Numbers** - Immediate danger: 911 - Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 (call or text) - 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 - Me: [number] - On-call supervisor: [number] One more thing: this is a report to the agency, not a decision you make about whether it's "bad enough." That call belongs to child protective services. Your job is to pass it on accurately.

Here is a clear, step-by-step response. First, here is a quick message you can **copy, adapt, and text back to her immediately**: --- > *"Thanks for letting me know. Don't press her for details right now—just let her know she's safe and you're there for her. Do not promise to keep secrets. Keep an eye on her and keep things normal. When you get a moment, write down her exact words and what time she said it. I’ll come check in with you shortly."* --- ### What to tell your leader to do right now: 1. **Do not interrogate or ask leading questions:** * Asking things like *"Is someone hurting you?"* or *"Did your parents fight?"* can lead to unreliable disclosures or make the child withdraw further. * If the child opens up again voluntarily, the leader should only use open-ended, non-leading follow-ups like: *"What did you mean by that?"* or *"How are you feeling right now?"* 2. **Never promise secrecy:** * If the child says, *"Promise you won't tell,"* the leader should say: *“I care about you and want to keep you safe. I can’t promise to keep secrets if it means keeping you safe, but I will only share it with people whose job it is to help.”* 3. **Offer calm, low-pressure reassurance:** * Tell the leader to say something simple: *“Thank you for sharing that with me. You aren’t in trouble, and I’m right here if you want to talk later. You don’t have to say anything else right now.”* 4. **Document immediately:** * Instruct the leader to write down (as soon as she is able) the child's **exact words**, the time, context (what they were doing right before), and the child’s demeanor. No assumptions or interpretations—just objective facts. --- ### What *you* should do next as the supervisor: 1. **Step into the room:** Go to the group area to relieve the leader so you can talk to her privately, or observe the child's behavior yourself. 2. **Review your Mandated Reporter protocols:** In almost all jurisdictions, after-school staff are mandated reporters. A vague statement like *"things are bad at home"* is not necessarily enough to file a report on its own, but it is a major flag. 3. **Determine if a gentle follow-up conversation is appropriate:** * Depending on your program's protocol, you or a designated staff member (like a site director or program counselor) may want to invite the child for a low-pressure check-in (e.g., coloring, getting a snack) to see if she wants to elaborate. * If she discloses physical abuse, sexual abuse, severe neglect, or immediate danger, **do not investigate further yourself**—follow your program’s child welfare/CPS reporting procedure immediately. 4. **Pay attention at pickup:** * Who is picking the child up today? Check the approved pickup list. * Watch the interaction between the child and the parent/guardian at dismissal. * If the child displays severe distress or refuses to go with the adult, consult your program's emergency safety policy immediately.

Here is what you should tell the group leader to do right now, followed by the immediate next steps you both need to take. --- ### 1. What to tell the leader to do *right now* with the child Send her these key points: * **Do not pressure the child to talk.** If she shut down, pushing will make her retreat further. Let her know it’s okay: *“You don’t have to talk right now, but I’m really glad you told me. I care about you, and I’m here whenever you want to share more.”* * **Do not promise secrecy.** Never say, *“I won’t tell anyone.”* If the child asks her not to tell, the safe response is: *“I want to make sure you’re safe, so I might need to talk to someone whose job it is to help kids, but I will be here with you.”* * **Keep things normal and safe.** Let her rejoin the group or sit nearby doing a quiet activity (coloring, reading) if she prefers. Keep an eye on her without hovering. * **Avoid asking leading questions.** If the child speaks again, only use open-ended, neutral prompts like *“Can you tell me more about that?”* or *“What happened?”* Do not ask specific questions like *“Did someone hurt you?”* --- ### 2. What the leader needs to do *immediately after* * **Write down exact notes.** As soon as she has a free moment (or at the end of the shift), she must document: * The exact words used by the child (verbatim, in quotes). * The context (what they were doing when it came up). * The child’s body language and behavior. * Time and date. * *Important:* Keep it factual—no assumptions, interpretations, or guesses. --- ### 3. Your next steps as the supervisor/program * **Step in to support:** Go to the group area if possible, relieve the leader for a few minutes so you can talk to her directly, or keep an eye on the group so she can breathe. * **Determine mandated reporting obligations:** In almost all jurisdictions, youth program staff and supervisors are **mandated reporters**. * A vague statement like *"things are bad at home"* on its own may simply warrant gentle check-ins, or it could be a child testing the waters before disclosing abuse, neglect, or domestic violence. * If the child discloses abuse, neglect, or immediate danger, you are legally required to report it to your local child welfare agency (e.g., CPS) or law enforcement—not investigate it yourselves. * **Follow your organization’s reporting policy:** Notify your designated child safeguarding lead or program director immediately to ensure proper protocol is followed.

Here is a clear response you can send or adapt for your group leader right away: *** **1. What to tell the student right now** * **Acknowledge and validate:** Say something simple like, *"Thank you for telling me that. I’m glad you shared that with me."* * **Do not press for details:** Do not question her, ask what "bad" means, or push her to keep talking. Let her stay quiet if she needs to. * **Avoid making promises of secrecy:** If she asks you not to tell anyone, gently let her know: *"I care about you, and my job is to make sure you’re safe, so if you ever tell me something that involves your safety, I might need to involve someone who can help."* * **Offer a low-pressure presence:** Let her know she can sit quietly, draw, or rejoin the activity whenever she is ready. Say, *"You don't have to talk right now. I'm right here if you want to say more later."* **2. What the leader needs to do immediately after** * **Write down exact words:** As soon as possible, write down verbatim what the child said (*"things are bad at home"*), the exact time, where it happened, and her demeanor. Stick strictly to the facts—do not guess or interpret what she meant. * **Follow reporting protocols:** Follow your program’s designated child safety and mandatory reporting policy. Bring the notes directly to your program director or designated safeguarding lead to decide next steps. * **Keep it confidential:** Do not discuss the disclosure with other staff, volunteers, or other students. Keep the information strictly between the leader, program leadership, and the designated reporting staff.

Here is what to tell your group leader right now: ### 1. In the moment with the child * **Do not press for more information.** If she went quiet, respect her boundary. Pushing can make children shut down further or feel unsafe. * **Respond with a simple, supportive statement.** Have the leader say something like: *"Thank you for telling me. You don't have to talk right now, but I'm here if you want to share more later."* * **Do not promise absolute secrecy.** If the child asks the leader not to tell anyone, the leader should be honest: *"I care about you, and I won't share your business around, but if someone is hurting you or you aren't safe, my job is to make sure you get help."* * **Keep the routine predictable.** Let her choose whether to rejoin the activity or sit quietly with a low-pressure task (like drawing or reading) nearby. ### 2. Immediately after * **Write down exact words.** The leader should write down what the child said verbatim, the time, and the context, without guessing or interpreting what "bad at home" means. * **Check in with your program's designated safety lead.** Review your organization's mandatory reporting policy and state guidelines together to determine next steps.

Here is what to text or tell the group leader right now: ### Immediate Steps for the Group Leader 1. **Stay calm and present.** Tell the child: "Thank you for telling me. You are safe here, and you don’t have to talk until you're ready." 2. **Keep the child in sight.** Keep her in the normal routine of the group so she does not feel singled out or pressured. 3. **Do not press for details.** Let her share only what she chooses to share. 4. **Call your supervisor immediately.** Step aside briefly to call you or the designated on-call program director. --- ### What Not to Do Right Now * **Do not investigate or interrogate.** Do not ask leading questions like "Is someone hurting you?" or "Who did what?" * **Do not promise absolute secrecy.** Never promise to keep things a secret; staff are mandated reporters if abuse or neglect is disclosed. * **Do not confront the family or caregiver.** Staff should not contact the parents or question them at pickup without supervisor guidance. * **Do not try to fix the home situation today.** The leader's only job right now is keeping the child safe, comfortable, and supported in the program. --- ### Next Steps for You and Leadership 1. **Review mandatory reporting protocols.** If the child discloses abuse, neglect, or immediate danger, follow your state’s mandated reporting laws and organization policy immediately. 2. **Document exact words.** Have the group leader write down the child’s exact words, the time, and any observable behavior as soon as possible. Keep this factual and private. 3. **Plan for dismissal/pickup.** Determine with leadership if an administrator needs to be present at pickup or if an immediate report must be filed before the child leaves the premises. 4. **Debrief with the group leader.** Check in with the staff member after the program ends to review the notes and offer support. --- ### Emergency and Support Contacts * **Immediate danger / emergency:** Call **911** * **Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline:** Call or text **1-800-422-4453** (dedicated 24/7 crisis counselors for advice on suspected child abuse) * **Crisis Text Line:** Text **HOME to 741741** * **Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:** Call or text **988**

1. Tell the leader to stay calm, stay close, and let the child set the pace. 2. Reassure the child simply: "Thank you for telling me. You are safe here." 3. Do not push the child to explain or answer questions. Let them return to the group activity or sit quietly if they prefer. 4. Do not promise secrecy. If the child asks, say gently that caring adults work together to keep kids safe. 5. Have the leader write down the child’s exact words and behavior as soon as possible, with the time and date. 6. Connect immediately with your organization’s designated child safety lead or on-call director to determine next steps under your mandatory reporting policy. 7. Do not confront family members or bring this up at pickup. **Support and Reporting Resources:** - Immediate danger: 911 - Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (24/7, confidential): 1-800-422-4453 (call or text) - Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741 - 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 Debrief with your leader after the shift to support them and complete required documentation.

Because your group leader is in the moment right now, she needs quick, calm, and clear instructions. As after-school program staff, you and your team are likely **mandated reporters**, meaning there is a specific protocol you must follow to protect the child and avoid compromising any potential investigation. Here is the immediate text you can copy and paste to your leader right now, followed by the steps *you* need to take next. ### 1. What to text your leader RIGHT NOW: > "Thank you for telling me. Take a breath. Right now, your only job is to make her feel safe and supported. **Do not** press her for details or ask leading questions. Just say something like, *'Thank you for telling me. You are safe here, and I’m really glad you're here today.'* Let her go back to normal activities if she wants, and just keep a close, gentle eye on her. I am coming over to support you / we will talk as soon as the kids leave." ### 2. Why she must NOT ask probing questions: Tell your leader (when you have a moment to speak) that while it is natural to want to ask, *"What do you mean by bad? Did someone hurt you?"*, **she must not do this.** * If things are just stressful at home (e.g., parents arguing, a pet died, financial stress), pressing her might make her shut down further. * If there *is* abuse or neglect happening, asking leading questions can accidentally taint the child's memory or testimony, which makes it much harder for trained forensic interviewers (like Child Protective Services) to do their jobs later. * If the child voluntarily starts talking again, the leader should only use open-ended prompts like, *"I'm listening,"* or *"Tell me more about that."* ### 3. Your Next Steps (As the Supervisor/Director): **Step 1: Go to the room/site (if possible)** Check on the child casually. Observe her behavior and physical appearance. Does she have any visible marks? Is she unusually withdrawn, fearful, or acting out? Does she seem hungry or exhausted? **Step 2: Document Everything Immediately** As soon as the child goes home (or while another staff member covers the group), sit down with the group leader and write down everything. * Use the child’s **exact words** in quotes ("things are bad at home"). * Note the context: What was happening right before she said it? (e.g., Were they talking about going home? Drawing families? Eating snack?) * Note the child's demeanor and body language. * Date and time-stamp the document, and have the leader sign it. **Step 3: Assess the Dismissal Situation** Pay close attention when the child is picked up today. * How does the child react when she sees the parent/caregiver? (Fearful, reluctant to leave, normal?) * How does the caregiver seem? (Intoxicated, aggressive, normal?) * *Note:* Only withhold a child from a parent if they are in **immediate, obvious danger** (e.g., the parent shows up visibly intoxicated to drive, or the child says "If I go home today he will hit me"), in which case you would call 911. A vague statement like "things are bad" is not enough to legally withhold a child from a parent at pickup. **Step 4: Consult your Program’s Protocol / CPS** "Things are bad at home" is vague. It could mean abuse, or it could mean her parents are getting divorced, or she got grounded from her iPad. * Check the child’s file to see if there is a history of similar comments or behavioral changes. * **Call your local CPS/Child Abuse Hotline for a consultation.** Many people don't realize you can call CPS just to ask for advice. You can tell the intake worker, *"I am a mandated reporter. A child said 'things are bad at home' and then shut down. Here is her age and behavior. Does this meet the threshold for a report?"* They will guide you on what to do next. **Step 5: Support your Group Leader** Hearing disclosures like this is scary and heavy for staff, especially younger or less-experienced leaders. Reassure her that she did the exact right thing by texting you immediately, and let her know that the burden of figuring this out is now on your shoulders, not hers.

This is a delicate situation, and the group leader did the right thing by reaching out immediately. Because after-school staff are typically mandated reporters, the priority right now is to ensure the child feels safe and supported without accidentally "interrogating" them, while you figure out the next administrative steps. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to handle this, starting with a text you can copy and paste to your leader right now. ### 1. What to text the group leader immediately: > "Thank you for telling me right away. Please do not press her for details or ask leading questions. Just validate her feelings by saying something like, 'Thank you for telling me, I’m glad you're here today, and my job is to help keep you safe.' Let her go back to normal activities if she wants to, and just keep a close, comforting eye on her. I am on my way over / we will talk as soon as the shift ends to write down exactly what happened." ### 2. Instructions for the Group Leader (In the Moment) If you need to give the leader a little more guidance over the phone, emphasize the following: * **Do not interrogate:** Tell the leader **not** to ask questions like, "Did someone hit you?" or "Are your parents fighting?" If this turns into a Child Protective Services (CPS) investigation, trained professionals need to ask the questions so the child's testimony isn't compromised. * **Use open, low-pressure support:** If the child wants to talk more on her own, the leader should just listen and use open prompts like, "Tell me more about that," or "How did that make you feel?" * **Maintain normalcy:** Sometimes kids drop a heavy truth and immediately want to go back to coloring or playing tag because they feel overwhelmed. Let the child dictate the pace. * **Observe:** Have the leader quietly note the child's physical state and behavior (e.g., Does she seem unusually tired, hungry, or withdrawn? Are there any visible marks?). ### 3. Your Next Steps as the Supervisor Once the immediate moment has passed, you need to step in and manage the protocol: * **Document everything immediately:** Have the group leader write down the interaction *verbatim* while it is fresh in their mind. They should include the exact time, what they were doing when the child said it, the child's exact words ("things are bad at home"), and the child's demeanor. Stick purely to facts, not assumptions. * **Check on the child yourself (Optional/Situational):** Depending on your relationship with the child, you might casually stop by the group. If appropriate, you can gently check in, or simply observe how the child is acting for the rest of the day, especially during parent pick-up. **Pay close attention to the child's body language when their caregiver arrives.** * **Review your organization's Mandated Reporter policy:** Vague statements like "things are bad at home" exist in a gray area—it could mean anything from a pet dying, to parents divorcing, to actual abuse or neglect. * *If you suspect abuse/neglect:* You do not need proof to call CPS; you only need "reasonable suspicion." You can always call your local CPS hotline to do a "consult," tell them what the child said, and let them decide if it meets the threshold for a report. * *If it seems like a family stressor rather than abuse:* If the child has no other red flags, you or the site director might do a gentle check-in with the parents at pick-up: *"Just wanted to let you know [Child] seemed a little down today and mentioned things were tough at home. Everything okay?"* **(Warning: NEVER do this if you have any suspicion that the parents are abusing the child, as it could put the child in danger when they get home.)** *** **How would you like to proceed?** If you'd like, I can help you with: 1. **Assessing the situation:** Tell me the child's approximate age and if there have been any other past red flags, and we can figure out if this warrants a CPS consult vs. a parent check-in. 2. **Drafting an incident report:** I can give you a quick template for the group leader to fill out before they leave today.

Tell your group leader to stay calm, keep the student with the group, and not press her for more details right now. Here is a text you can copy and send to the leader immediately: > "Thank you for telling me right away. Don't push her to talk more, just let her know you're glad she told you and that she's safe here. Keep her in your sight and stick to the normal routine. I am on my way over now [or: I will meet you at dismissal] so we can take the next steps together." Once you connect with the group leader, follow these steps: **1. What the group leader should do right now** * **Affirm and support:** Have the leader say something simple and low-pressure, like, "Thank you for telling me. You don't have to talk about it right now, but I'm here if you want to." * **Do not investigate:** Staff should never ask leading questions or press a child for details. If abuse or neglect is happening, trained investigators need to ask those questions later. * **Keep things normal:** Let the student participate in the activity or sit quietly nearby. Sudden changes in how adults treat her can make her feel anxious or regret speaking up. **2. What to do before dismissal** * **Check your safety protocols:** Look at who is authorized to pick her up and watch how she reacts when her ride arrives. If you have reason to believe she is in immediate physical danger going home today, follow your organization's emergency protocol, which may mean calling child protective services or local law enforcement before release. * **Have a second adult present:** Go to the group leader's room if you can so they aren't managing the rest of the group and supporting this student alone. **3. What you and the leader need to do right after** * **Write it down:** Have the group leader write down the student's exact words ("things are bad at home"), what was happening right before she said it, her demeanor, and the time. Keep it strictly factual. * **Follow your mandated reporter policy:** In most states, after-school staff are mandated reporters. Review what was said against your organization's reporting policy. Even a vague statement, combined with other signs you or your staff may have noticed, may warrant a call to your state's child abuse hotline for guidance. You do not need proof to call—the hotline worker will decide if it meets the threshold for a report. * **Loop in your supervisor or school partner:** If your program is connected to a school, check your information-sharing policy to see if you should notify the school counselor or social worker so they can check in with the student tomorrow.

Tell your group leader to stay calm, keep the student feel safe without pressuring her to talk, and follow your organization's reporting procedures before the day ends. Here is a text you can copy and send to the leader right now, followed by the steps you both need to take next. ### What to text the group leader right now > "Thank you for telling me right away. Right now, your only job is to be a calm, steady presence. Don't press her for more details or ask leading questions. You can quietly tell her: 'Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you're here today, and I'm here if you want to talk more later.' Let her participate in the group as usual, keep a close eye on her, and do not let her leave for the day until you and I check in." --- ### What to tell the leader to do during the program 1. **Thank the student and take the pressure off.** A simple, quiet acknowledgment lets the student know she was heard without forcing her to talk before she is ready. 2. **Do not investigate.** Staff should never ask probing or leading questions (like "Is someone hurting you?"). If the student chooses to share more on her own, the leader should just listen and use open prompts like, "Tell me more about that." 3. **Never promise to keep a secret.** If the student asks the leader not to tell anyone, the leader should say: "I care about you, and my job is to help keep you safe. Sometimes that means I have to share things with people who can help." 4. **Stick to the normal routine.** Let the student rejoin the activity or sit quietly nearby. Predictability helps kids feel safe when they are overwhelmed. ### What you and the leader need to do before dismissal 1. **Check in before pick-up.** Meet with the leader before the program ends to assess whether it is safe for the student to go home today. 2. **Write down the exact words.** Have the leader write down the student's exact quote ("things are bad at home"), the time it happened, and what the student was doing right before and after. Stick strictly to facts, not assumptions. 3. **Follow your mandated reporter protocol.** Staff in youth programs are typically mandated reporters. You do not need proof of abuse or neglect to make a report—only reasonable suspicion or concern. If you aren't sure whether this statement meets the threshold, you can call your state or county Child Protective Services (CPS) hotline to consult with an intake worker before the child goes home. 4. **Do not confront the parents or caregivers.** If there is a safety concern at home, questioning the adults at pick-up can put the child at greater risk. Let your designated safeguarding lead or child welfare professionals handle family contact if safety is in question.

Send these steps to the group leader right now, and head to her room if you are on site. **What to tell the group leader to do right now:** 1. **Stay calm and keep the student in a safe, supervised space.** If you think the child is in immediate physical danger if she leaves today, call 911 and do not release her until you have spoken with a supervisor. 2. **Reassure her briefly.** Say something simple, like: "Thank you for telling me. You are not in trouble, and I am glad you are here with us right now." 3. **Follow her lead.** Let her sit quietly, get a drink of water, or join a calm activity. Give her choices about what she wants to do next. 4. **Call me at [your phone number] as soon as the other children are settled.** I am coming to support you / I will walk you through our next steps. **What to tell the group leader NOT to do:** - **Do not press her for details or investigate.** Do not ask leading questions about what is happening at home. If a report is needed, trained child welfare workers will do the interview. - **Do not promise to keep a secret.** If she asks you not to tell anyone, say: "My job is to help keep you safe, so I may need to share this with [Supervisor's Name] so we can figure out the best way to support you." - **Do not talk about what she said in front of other kids or staff.** Protect her privacy. - **Do not contact her parents or guardians right now.** Wait until you and I have reviewed the situation together. **Next steps for you and the leader:** 1. **Make sure the group is covered** so the leader can step aside and talk with you before pickup time. 2. **Follow your organization's mandated reporting protocol.** Review what the child said and any other signs the leader has noticed, and call your state's Child Protective Services hotline or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at **1-800-422-4453** for guidance on making a report. 3. **Document what happened** while it is fresh. Have the leader write down the child's exact words ("things are bad at home"), the time, and what she observed, sticking only to facts. Keep this record secure and private. 4. **Debrief with the leader afterward.** Hearing a disclosure is stressful. Check in with her before she goes home today. **Important numbers to keep on hand:** - **Immediate physical danger:** Call **911** - **Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline** (24/7 support for mandated reporters and crisis guidance): Call or text **1-800-422-4453** - **Suicide and Crisis Lifeline:** Call or text **988** - **Crisis Text Line:** Text **HOME to 741741** - **On-call supervisor / designated safeguarding lead:** [Insert number]

Send these steps to the group leader right now, and head over to support her in person if you are on site. **What to text the group leader:** 1. Stay calm and sit quietly with her in a visible, semi-private area. 2. Validate her without pressing. Say: "Thank you for telling me. You don't have to say anything else right now. I am glad you are here." 3. Let her choose what to do next, such as getting a snack, drawing, or rejoining the group. 4. Do not ask leading questions, press for details, or make promises you cannot keep (like promising to keep this a secret). **Your next steps as supervisor:** 1. **Check for immediate danger:** If you believe the child is in immediate physical danger or cannot safely go home at pickup today, call 911 and your state or county Child Protective Services (CPS) hotline right away. 2. **Follow mandated reporting procedures:** Consult your organization's safeguarding policy and on-call clinical or program director at [insert supervisor/director number]. In most areas, staff are mandated reporters and must report suspected abuse or neglect without investigating it themselves. 3. **Document:** Have the group leader write down the child's exact words ("bad at home"), the time, and what was happening right before she said it. Keep these notes confidential and secure to protect the child's privacy. 4. **Debrief:** Check in with the group leader after the child has safely left or is with another trusted adult. Hear how she is doing and review the reporting plan together. **Emergency and Support Resources (repeat as needed):** * **Immediate physical danger:** Call 911 * **Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline** (for consultation and connection to local CPS): Call or text 1-800-422-4453 * **988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline:** Call or text 988 * **Crisis Text Line:** Text HOME to 741741 * **Your on-call supervisor/director:** [Insert phone number]

***Disclaimer:** I am an AI, not a legal or licensed child welfare professional. You should immediately consult your organization’s written safeguarding policy and your designated Safeguarding Lead or Director.* In a situation like this, the goal is to balance the need to protect the child with the need to avoid "leading" the child or conducting an unauthorized investigation. Here is what you should tell your group leader right now, broken down by immediate action and communication guidelines. ### 1. Immediate Instructions for the Leader Tell the leader to do the following: * **Stay Calm and Supportive:** Tell the child, *"I'm glad you told me. I am here for you, and we want to make sure you are safe."* * **Do Not Press for Details:** Instruct the leader **not** to interrogate the child or ask "What happened?" or "Who did it?" Pressing for information can contaminate a future forensic interview or cause the child to shut down. * **Be Honest About Confidentiality:** The leader must **not** promise to keep this a secret. If the child asks, the leader should say, *"I care about you, and because I care, I have to tell [Supervisor/Director] so we can make sure you're okay."* * **Maintain Normalcy:** Once the child has gone quiet, the leader should allow them to rejoin the group activity. Forcing the child to stay in a "serious" conversation can increase anxiety. ### 2. Documentation (The "Paper Trail") Tell the leader that as soon as they have a free moment, they must write a **factual, objective report**. This is critical for legal and protective reasons. Instruct them to: * **Use Direct Quotes:** Write exactly what the child said ("Things are bad at home") rather than interpreting it ("The child seemed upset about her family"). * **Stick to Facts:** Record the time, date, and exactly what happened leading up to the statement. * **Avoid Opinions:** Do not write "I think the parents are neglecting her." Write "The child stated things are bad at home and then became silent." ### 3. Your Next Steps as the Supervisor Once you have given the leader these instructions, you need to move into the reporting phase: * **Consult Your Policy:** Check your employee handbook or safeguarding manual. Most programs have a specific "Mandated Reporter" protocol. * **Determine if a Report is Necessary:** Depending on your jurisdiction and the child's age, "things are bad at home" may be enough to trigger a report to Child Protective Services (CPS) or the equivalent agency, especially if there are other red flags (bruises, hunger, sudden behavioral changes). * **Notify Leadership:** Ensure your Director or the Board is aware that a disclosure has been made. * **Support the Staff Member:** This is stressful for the group leader. Check in with them to ensure they are doing okay and understand that they did the right thing by reporting it to you. ### Summary Checklist for the Leader: * [ ] **Comfort** the child. * [ ] **Stop** questioning. * [ ] **Do not** promise secrecy. * [ ] **Document** the exact words used. * [ ] **Return** to normal activity.

***Disclaimer:** I am an AI, not a legal or licensed child welfare professional. You should immediately consult your organization’s written safeguarding policy and your designated Safeguarding Lead or Director.* In a situation like this, the goal is to balance the need to protect the child with the need to avoid "leading" the child or conducting an unauthorized investigation. Here is what you should tell your group leader right now, broken down by immediate action and communication guidelines. ### 1. Immediate Instructions for the Leader Tell the leader to do the following: * **Stay Calm and Supportive:** Tell the child, *"I'm glad you told me. I am here for you, and we want to make sure you are safe."* * **Do Not Press for Details:** Instruct the leader **not** to interrogate the child or ask "What happened?" or "Who did it?" Pressing for information can contaminate a future forensic interview or cause the child to shut down. * **Be Honest About Confidentiality:** The leader must **not** promise to keep this a secret. If the child asks, the leader should say, *"I care about you, and because I care, I have to tell [Supervisor/Director] so we can make sure you're okay."* * **Maintain Normalcy:** Once the child has gone quiet, the leader should allow them to rejoin the group activity. Forcing the child to stay in a "serious" conversation can increase anxiety. ### 2. Documentation (The "Paper Trail") Tell the leader that as soon as they have a free moment, they must write a **factual, objective report**. This is critical for legal and protective reasons. Instruct them to: * **Use Direct Quotes:** Write exactly what the child said ("Things are bad at home") rather than interpreting it ("The child seemed upset about her family"). * **Stick to Facts:** Record the time, date, and exactly what happened leading up to the statement. * **Avoid Opinions:** Do not write "I think the parents are neglecting her." Write "The child stated things are bad at home and then became silent." ### 3. Your Next Steps as the Supervisor Once you have given the leader these instructions, you need to move into the reporting phase: * **Consult Your Policy:** Check your employee handbook or safeguarding manual. Most programs have a specific "Mandated Reporter" protocol. * **Determine if a Report is Necessary:** Depending on your jurisdiction and the child's age, "things are bad at home" may be enough to trigger a report to Child Protective Services (CPS) or the equivalent agency, especially if there are other red flags (bruises, hunger, sudden behavioral changes). * **Notify Leadership:** Ensure your Director or the Board is aware that a disclosure has been made. * **Support the Staff Member:** This is stressful for the group leader. Check in with them to ensure they are doing okay and understand that they did the right thing by reporting it to you. ### Summary Checklist for the Leader: * [ ] **Comfort** the child. * [ ] **Stop** questioning. * [ ] **Do not** promise secrecy. * [ ] **Document** the exact words used. * [ ] **Return** to normal activity.

First, check your organization's mandatory reporting policies and state laws regarding suspected child abuse or neglect. If you are a mandated reporter, you likely have a legal obligation to report this to the appropriate authorities within a specific timeframe. Here is a suggested response to the group leader: "Thank you for letting me know. Please stay calm and let the student know that you are there for her and that she is safe at the program. Do not press her for more details or try to investigate the situation yourself, as this can sometimes be overwhelming for a child. Please document exactly what the student said and the time it happened using our standard incident report form. Once that is done, let's meet [insert time/location] so we can follow our reporting protocols and ensure the student gets the right support."

First, check your organization's mandatory reporting policies and state laws regarding suspected child abuse or neglect. If you are a mandated reporter, you likely have a legal obligation to report this to the appropriate authorities within a specific timeframe. If you are guiding the group leader, you can suggest these immediate steps: **1. Support the child's space** Tell the leader it is okay that the child got quiet. They should let the child know they are there for them and that they can talk whenever they feel ready, without pressure. **2. Document the interaction** Ask the leader to write down exactly what the child said ("things are bad at home") and the time and date of the conversation. Use factual language and avoid guessing what "bad" means. **3. Follow the chain of command** Ensure the leader knows who the designated safeguarding lead or supervisor is in your organization so the information is handled by the person responsible for reporting and support. **4. Maintain a routine** Encourage the leader to keep the child's after-school experience as stable and predictable as possible, providing a safe and consistent environment.

1. Ensure the child is safe and supervised in a calm environment. 2. Ask the child if they are in immediate danger or if they are hurt. 3. If the child is in immediate danger or has a visible injury, call 911. 4. Follow your organization's mandatory reporting policy immediately. Contact your designated reporting officer or supervisor to file the required report. 5. Let the child know they are safe at the program and that you are there to support them. Do not press the child for more details or try to investigate the situation yourself. **Who to call now:** * **Your Supervisor/Reporting Officer:** [Insert Number] * **Emergency Services:** 911 * **Child Protective Services (CPS) Hotline:** [Insert Local Number] **What not to do right now:** * Do not promise the child that you will "keep this a secret." * Do not attempt to contact the parents or guardians before speaking with your supervisor. * Do not lead the child with questions or suggest what might be happening. **Next steps:** * Once the child is safe and the report is filed, the group leader should document the child's exact words and the time of the disclosure in a factual incident report. * Schedule a debrief with the group leader and a supervisor to provide support and determine the next steps for the child's care. **Crisis Resources:** * Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: Call or text 1-800-422-4453. * 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988.

1. Ensure the child is safe and supervised in a calm environment. 2. Ask the child if they are in immediate danger or if they are hurt. 3. If the child is in immediate danger or has a visible injury, call 911. 4. Follow your organization's mandatory reporting policy immediately. Contact your designated reporting officer or supervisor to file the required report. 5. Let the child know they are safe at the program and that you are there to support them. Do not press the child for more details or try to investigate the situation yourself. **Who to call now:** * **Your Supervisor/Reporting Officer:** [Insert Number] * **Emergency Services:** 911 * **Child Protective Services (CPS) Hotline:** [Insert Local Number] **What not to do right now:** * Do not promise the child that you will "keep this a secret." * Do not attempt to contact the parents or guardians before speaking with your supervisor. * Do not lead the child with questions or suggest what might be happening. **Next steps:** * Once the child is safe and the report is filed, the group leader should document the child's exact words and the time of the disclosure in a factual incident report. * Schedule a debrief with the group leader and a supervisor to provide support and determine the next steps for the child's care. **Crisis Resources:** * Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: Call or text 1-800-422-4453. * 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988.

This is a situation worth handling carefully, and the good news is the leader's instinct to check with you is right. Here's what I'd tell her: **With the girl: don't push, don't drop it** Going quiet after a partial disclosure is really common — kids often drop a fragment like "things are bad at home" as a test to see if it's safe to say more. Pressing for details usually slams the door shut. Tell the leader to say something simple like: *"Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you did. I'm here anytime you want to talk — today or any other day."* Then let it be and keep things normal around her so she doesn't feel exposed in front of the other kids. **A few things NOT to do** - **Don't promise to keep it secret.** If the girl asks "are you going to tell?", the honest answer is something like: "I care about you and I want you to be safe. If I ever worried you weren't safe, I'd have to tell someone who helps kids — but I'd tell you first." Promising secrecy and then breaking it is far worse than being honest upfront. - **Don't ask leading questions** ("Did someone hurt you?" "Is it your dad?"). If she volunteers more, just listen and let her talk. - **Don't call home to ask the parents about it.** If the problem *is* the parents, that could put her at risk. **Document it tonight** Have the leader write down exactly what the girl said, word for word, plus the time, place, who was around, how she seemed, and what the leader said back. Facts only, no interpretation. If this ever becomes a report or investigation, contemporaneous notes matter a lot. **On reporting** "Bad at home" alone may not meet the threshold for a CPS report — but check your program's policy and your state's mandated reporter law, since many states include youth program staff. The key points for the leader: - She doesn't need proof or certainty. The standard is reasonable suspicion, and CPS decides what warrants investigation. - If anything more surfaces — a name, an injury, fear of going home, flinching, a change in behavior — report it. - If she's unsure whether this rises to a report, she can call **Childhelp's hotline (1-800-422-4453)** and talk it through with a counselor. That's a legitimate, low-stakes way to get guidance. **Keep watching** Tell the leader to stay alert over the coming weeks: withdrawal, sudden aggression, changes in hygiene, unexplained marks, hunger or hoarding food, dread at pickup time. And to offer occasional low-pressure check-ins — "I've been thinking about you. I'm around if you ever want to talk." Many kids disclose fully days or even weeks after the first fragment, and the relationship she builds now is what makes that possible. **One more thing — for you** Check in on the leader too. Holding a disclosure like this is heavy, especially when you can't fix it. Make sure she knows the pathway (you → report, if needed) so she isn't carrying it alone. And if your program doesn't have a written protocol for disclosures, this is a good moment to create one — Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children training is a solid, widely used option if you want something turnkey. The short version for her text back: *"You did the right thing by not pushing. Thank her for telling you, keep the door open, write down exactly what she said, and let's talk in the morning about next steps."*

This is worth taking seriously, and the good news is the leader doesn't need to be a therapist or investigator—her job right now is to be a steady, safe adult. Here's what I'd tell her: **What to do now** - Go back to the kid calmly and without pressure. Something like: *"I'm really glad you told me that. You don't have to say anything else if you don't want to. I'm here, and I care about how you're doing."* Then keep things normal—don't make it a big scene in front of peers. - If the child asks "will you tell anyone?", don't promise secrecy. Say something honest like: *"I might need to tell someone who helps keep kids safe, but I'll always be honest with you about it."* A broken promise of secrecy is far more damaging than no promise. - If the child wants to say more, stick to open-ended prompts only: "Do you want to tell me more?" Never leading questions ("Did someone hurt you?" "Is it your dad?"). Those can distort a child's account and cause real problems if this ever becomes an official case. - **Document it today**: the exact words she used, time, context, and what the leader said back. As close to verbatim as possible. **What not to do** - Don't press her to explain what she meant. - Don't visibly react with alarm—kids shut down fast when they feel they've said something wrong. - Don't mention it to the parents. If something is actually wrong at home, tipping them off can put the child at risk. **On reporting** "Bad at home" alone is vague and may not meet the threshold for a report on its own—but youth program staff are mandated reporters in most states, so confirm what your state requires. If she says anything more specific that suggests abuse or neglect, report it—don't investigate first. Many states have a consultation line for mandated reporters if you're unsure whether something is reportable. If your program doesn't have a designated person who handles reports, that should be you. **Over the next days** Kids usually disclose in pieces—they're testing whether an adult is safe. So the leader should keep showing up as exactly that: casual check-ins ("I've been thinking about you—how's it going?"), watching for changes in behavior, bruises, hygiene, or withdrawal, and logging anything notable. **Reassure her** The fact that this kid said *anything* to her leader is a good sign—it means she already senses this is a safe person. The leader did the right thing by flagging it immediately instead of sitting on it or trying to handle it alone. She doesn't need to fix anything tonight; she needs to be the calm, consistent adult this kid chose to talk to.

The leader did the right thing by coming to you instead of trying to handle it alone. Here's what to tell her. **What she should do today** 1. **Don't press for details.** The child said what she was ready to say. One open door is enough: "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you did. If you ever want to talk more, I'm here." Then let it be and act normal. 2. **Don't promise to keep it between them.** If the child asks, the honest version is: "I can't promise that, because my job is to help keep you safe. But I'll only talk to people whose job is to help kids." 3. **Write it down.** The child's exact words, the date, the time, what was happening, what the leader said back, and anything she noticed that day. Facts only, no interpretation. 4. **Don't mention the disclosure to the parents or caregivers at pickup.** If something harmful is happening at home, alerting them could make things worse for the child. Any parent contact goes through you and your policy. **If the child brings it up again** Listen, stay calm, and thank her for telling her. No leading questions ("Did someone hurt you?"). Save the detailed questions for trained interviewers — leading or repeated questions can complicate a formal interview later. "You can always talk to me" does more than any question could. **Your part** - In most states, staff at youth programs are mandated reporters. A vague "bad at home" may or may not meet the threshold on its own, but that decision shouldn't sit with the group leader — it sits with you. Check your child protection policy for your reporting chain. - If you're unsure whether it's reportable, call your state's child protection hotline and ask. You can consult without filing, and they would much rather walk you through it than miss something. - Keep the leader posted on what you decide, and keep the child's routine steady. The leader being the same warm, predictable adult she's always been is itself protective. One more thing worth passing along: the child chose to say something to her. That's trust, and it means she has a safe adult in her week no matter what's going on at home.

The short version for your leader: her job right now isn't to find out what's happening. It's to be a safe adult who doesn't push, and to pass it up. Here's a text you could send her: > You did the right thing telling me. Here's what to do: > > - Don't press her for details. Let her decide when and how much to share. > - If she brings it up again, just listen and stay calm. "Thank you for telling me. I'm here whenever you want to talk" is enough. > - Don't promise to keep it secret. If she asks, you can say: "I can't promise that, but I promise you won't have to deal with it alone." > - Write down exactly what she said, in her words, with the date and time. > - Keep things normal with her otherwise. You being the same steady person she already trusts is the most valuable thing right now. > > I'll handle next steps. You don't have to figure this out alone. A few reasons behind those points, in case she asks: - **Going quiet is normal.** Kids often test with a small disclosure first. Her going quiet doesn't mean the leader mishandled it — it means the door is open and the child is deciding whether to walk through it. - **Don't investigate.** No leading questions ("Did someone hurt you?"), and no calling home to ask her parents about it. If something is happening there, that could make things harder for her. - **Notes should be verbatim.** What she said, when, who was present. Facts, not interpretation. If this ever goes further, exact words matter. And for you: - Check your child protection policy for who holds reporting responsibility. "Bad at home" on its own is vague and may not meet the threshold for a CPS report, but that decision shouldn't sit with the group leader — or with you alone, if you're unsure. - If you're unsure, you can call your state's CPS hotline and consult without filing. They field "is this reportable?" questions all day. - If the child says anything more specific — harm, neglect, someone hurting her — that changes the picture and likely requires a report. - Over the next week or two: keep the leader close to the child's normal routine, keep notes of anything new, and check in with the leader so she's not carrying it alone either. The leader's instinct to reach out instead of guessing was the right one. Tell her that.

She did the right thing by texting you, and she did the right thing with the child — staying calm and not pushing is exactly the correct response. A child going quiet after saying something like that is normal. It doesn't mean she failed. **What you can text her back right now** > "You did exactly the right thing. Don't ask her any more questions — she said what she could say. If she brings it up again, just listen. Don't promise to keep it a secret, but tell her you're glad she told you. Keep the rest of the session normal. Write down exactly what she said, in her words, with the time. Call me when you're free — we'll go through it together. If you see any sign she's in immediate danger, call 911 first, then me." **The steps** 1. If there's any sign of immediate danger — an injury, a threat, someone unsafe picking her up — call 911 first. 2. Otherwise, keep the program normal. Don't single her out in front of the other kids. 3. Write down what she said, word for word, with the date and time. Facts only — no guesses about what "bad" means. 4. Call your state's child protection hotline and report what she said, in the child's words. You don't need to know what "bad" means to call. The screener's job is to figure that out. "Things are bad at home" from a child is enough. 5. Keep the note in a confidential file. Only you and whoever handles reporting need the details. **What she can say to the child** - "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you did." - "You don't have to say more right now." - If the child asks whether she'll tell: "I can't promise to keep it just between us, because I want to make sure you're safe. But you didn't do anything wrong by telling me." **What not to do** - Don't ask what happened or who. Leading questions can compromise a formal investigation and can make her shut down. - Don't promise secrecy. - Don't ask the parents what's going on at pickup. - Don't try to figure out what "bad" means tonight. That's not her job. **On reporting** In most states, after-school staff are mandated reporters, and the duty usually belongs to the person who heard the disclosure — telling you doesn't automatically discharge it. You can make the call together. Childhelp can tell you exactly how your state handles it. **After** Talk tomorrow, or tonight if she needs it. Review the note together. And check on her — hearing a first disclosure lands hard on staff. The child needs the program to stay steady and predictable; her relationship with her group leader is the most protective thing in the building right now. **Numbers** - 911 — any sign of immediate danger - Your state's child protection hotline: [number — keep this where staff can find it] - Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453, 24/7 — they'll help you decide whether and how to report - 988 (call or text) — if tonight is sitting heavy with her

She did the right thing by texting you instead of sitting with this alone. Tell her that first. If it helps, here's a message you can send her right now: > "You did the right thing telling me. Don't press her to say more — just let her know you're glad she told you and that you're around. Call me as soon as you're free and we'll walk through next steps together." Then here's what to walk through together: **What to tell the leader** 1. **Don't press the child to say more.** Going quiet after starting to tell someone is common. Pushing can feel unsafe to her and can complicate things later. One line is enough: "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you did. I'm here whenever you want to talk." Then let the rest of the day stay normal. 2. **Don't promise to keep it between them.** If the child asks whether she'll tell anyone, be honest: "I might need to tell someone whose job is keeping kids safe. But I'm not going anywhere." A secrecy promise that gets broken does more damage than the truth. 3. **If the child says more, listen.** No leading questions like "Did someone hurt you?" Let her talk at her own pace. 4. **Write down exactly what she said, word for word**, with the time, date, and who was there. Today, while it's fresh. 5. **Know your reporting obligation.** In most states, after-school staff are mandated reporters, and the duty belongs to the person who heard the concern — telling you doesn't automatically discharge it. "Bad at home" alone may not meet the threshold, but if either of you has a concern about abuse or neglect, report it. You don't need proof. Reasonable suspicion is the standard, and good-faith reports are protected. If you're unsure, call Childhelp and talk it through with a counselor. 6. **If there's any sign of immediate danger before the child goes home** — an injury, or she says she's afraid to go home — call 911 or CPS before she's released. Don't wait until end of day. **What not to do** - Don't question the child further or try to find out what's going on. - Don't call or confront her parents. - Don't discuss it with other staff beyond you. - Don't hold a concern to see whether she says more first. **Who to call** - 911 — if there's immediate danger - Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: **1-800-422-4453** (call or text) — they can help you decide whether and how to report - Your state's CPS hotline — look up the number now and save it in both your phones - 988 (call or text) — if the leader needs support after a hard day **After today** Have her debrief with you today, not on her own. If your organization has a child protection policy, follow it. If it doesn't, this is the week to write one.

Tell her to treat it as a possible safeguarding disclosure, even though the child didn’t give details. She should: 1. **Stay calm and keep the child supervised.** Say: > “Thank you for telling me. I’m glad you told me. You’re not in trouble. I want to help keep you safe.” 2. **Ask only a few, open, safety-focused questions:** - “Are you safe right now?” - “Is someone hurting you or threatening you today?” - “Is there anything you need me to know to keep you safe going home?” Don’t press for details, suggest answers, ask “why,” or investigate. 3. **Don’t promise confidentiality.** If needed: > “I can’t keep this completely secret because I may need to tell someone whose job is to help keep you safe, but I’ll only share it with people who need to know.” 4. **Follow your organization’s safeguarding/mandated-reporting procedure immediately.** Contact the designated safeguarding lead, supervisor, or child-protection agency. A report generally does **not** require proof—reasonable suspicion or a concerning disclosure is enough. If there is immediate danger, call emergency services now. 5. **Document promptly and factually:** the child’s exact words, date/time, who was present, questions asked, and her responses. Preserve the leader’s text. Don’t add interpretations. 6. **Do not confront or contact the alleged person responsible**, and don’t independently decide who should pick the child up. Follow your agency’s protocol, especially if going home may be unsafe. You can text the leader: > “Stay with her and keep her calm. Tell her you’re glad she told you and she isn’t in trouble. Ask only whether she is safe right now and whether there is an immediate concern about going home. Don’t press for details or promise secrecy. Contact our safeguarding lead/supervisor now and document her exact words. If she says she’s in immediate danger, call emergency services.” If you tell me your country/state, I can point you to the appropriate reporting contact and rules.

Tell the group leader to stay calm, keep the child with a trusted adult, and follow your organization’s safeguarding/mandated-reporting procedure **right away**. She does not need proof or a full disclosure to raise a concern. She can say: > “Thank you for telling me. I’m glad you told me. You don’t have to tell me everything right now. Are you in danger right now, or is anyone hurt?” If the child continues: > “I will listen. I can’t promise to keep this completely secret, because I may need to tell people whose job is to help keep you safe.” Then: - **Don’t interrogate or lead her**—avoid questions like “Did your parent hurt you?” or asking her to repeat details. - If she goes quiet, say, “That’s okay. You can take your time. I’m here with you.” - **Do not send her home with someone she identifies as dangerous**, and don’t confront the suspected person. - Write down the child’s **exact words**, the time, who was present, and the leader’s observations—without interpretations. - Contact your designated safeguarding lead/supervisor and the appropriate child-protection or mandated-reporting hotline **immediately**, following local law and program policy. If there is imminent danger or a medical emergency, call emergency services. - The leader should make any report required of her personally; passing it only to you may not satisfy reporting obligations in some places. - Don’t contact the caregivers first unless your child-protection authority or policy directs you to; that can increase risk or interfere with an assessment. You can text the leader: > “Stay with her and reassure her. Ask only whether she is in immediate danger or anyone is hurt. Don’t press for details or promise secrecy. Document her exact words and contact our safeguarding lead/child-protection reporting line now. If she’s in immediate danger, call emergency services.”

Tell the group leader to respond calmly and follow your organization’s safeguarding policy now. She should: 1. **Check immediate safety.** Ask, “Are you safe right now?” and “Is anyone in immediate danger?” If the child may be in immediate danger, call emergency services and follow your emergency procedures. 2. **Use a simple, supportive response.** She can say: > “Thank you for telling me. I’m glad you told me. You don’t have to tell me everything right now. I need to share this with people whose job is to help keep you safe.” 3. **Do not investigate.** Do not press for details, ask leading questions, promise secrecy, confront anyone at home, or ask the child to repeat the story to several adults. If the child volunteers more, listen and use brief, open prompts such as, “Tell me more about that.” 4. **Write down the facts promptly.** Record the child’s exact words, the date and time, who was present, what the leader asked, and the child’s response. Keep observations separate from assumptions. 5. **Report through the required channel immediately.** Contact your designated safeguarding lead, supervisor, and—where required by local law—child protection or the mandated-reporting hotline. The leader should not wait for more information or try to decide whether the concern is “serious enough.” 6. **Be careful about contacting caregivers.** Do not notify a parent or caregiver until the safeguarding lead or child-protection authority advises it, especially if someone in the home may be involved or contact could increase risk. You can text the leader: > Stay with her, remain calm, and check whether she is safe right now. Thank her for telling you, but do not ask for more details or promise confidentiality. Write down her exact words and contact our safeguarding lead immediately. If she may be in immediate danger, call emergency services and follow our emergency procedures.

Tell her to do the following now: 1. **Stay calm and keep the child nearby.** Move to a quiet, observable space with another appropriate adult nearby. Do not leave the child alone if there may be an immediate safety concern. 2. **Listen without pressing for details.** She can say: > “Thank you for telling me. I’m glad you told me. You’re not in trouble. You don’t have to tell me everything, but I need to share this with people whose job is to help keep you safe.” If the child speaks again, use only open questions such as, **“Can you tell me more?”** Avoid leading questions, repeated questioning, or asking the child to prove anything. 3. **Do not promise secrecy.** Do not investigate, confront anyone at home, or contact the caregiver before consulting your safeguarding lead or child-protection authority. That could increase risk or affect an investigation. 4. **Record the disclosure promptly.** Write down the child’s exact words, the time and place, who was present, what questions were asked, and how the child responded. Keep the record secure. 5. **Report it immediately through your safeguarding process.** The group leader should contact your designated safeguarding lead or mandated-reporting supervisor now. A report generally should not wait for proof. Follow your local reporting law and your organization’s policy. 6. **Call emergency services now** if the child says they are in immediate danger, has an urgent injury or medical need, or cannot safely return home. If there is no immediate danger, contact the relevant child-protection reporting line today. You can text the leader: > Please stay with her, remain calm, and listen without pressing her for details. Thank her for telling you and explain that you may need to share this with people who help keep children safe. Do not promise secrecy, investigate, or contact home yet. Write down her exact words and contact our safeguarding lead immediately. If she is in immediate danger or cannot safely leave with her caregiver, call emergency services.

Tell the group leader: > Thank you for telling me. Stay calm and keep her with you in a safe, supervised place. Tell her: “Thank you for telling me. I’m glad you told me. You don’t have to explain everything right now. I need to get help from another adult whose job is to keep kids safe.” > > Do not promise secrecy, ask leading questions, investigate, or ask her to repeat the story. If she offers more, listen and use her exact words. Ask only what is needed to know whether she is in immediate danger, such as: “Are you safe right now?” and “Is someone coming to pick you up who might hurt you?” > > Write down her exact words, the time, who was present, and what you observed. Do not add interpretations. Contact our safeguarding lead or supervisor now and follow the organization’s child-protection reporting procedure. If she says she is in immediate danger, has been injured, or may be harmed before help arrives, call 911. Do not release her to anyone who may pose a risk until the safeguarding lead or emergency services gives direction. > > Keep the information private and share it only with the people responsible for responding. Do not contact the suspected person yourself. Also ask the leader to stay with the child until the next responsible adult takes over, and to document the report afterward. If the child or leader is in emotional crisis, call or text **988** in the United States; call **911** if there is immediate danger.

Tell the group leader to do the following now: 1. **Stay with the child and keep her supervised by a trusted adult.** Speak calmly and privately, but do not isolate her from appropriate support or leave her alone. 2. **Acknowledge what she said.** She can say: > “Thank you for telling me. I’m glad you told me. You’re not in trouble. I want to help keep you safe.” 3. **Ask only a few open, safety-focused questions:** - “When you say things are bad at home, can you tell me more?” - “Are you safe going home today?” - “Is anyone hurt or in immediate danger right now?” Do not press for details, suggest answers, investigate, or ask her to repeat the story to several people. Do not promise to keep it secret. Say: > “I may need to tell people whose job is to help keep children safe. I will only share what is needed.” 4. **If she may be in immediate danger, is injured, or says someone is in danger, call 911 now.** Do not send her home or contact a caregiver first if doing so could increase risk. Follow your organization’s child-safety policy. 5. **Contact your program’s safeguarding lead, supervisor, or designated mandated reporter immediately.** A report generally requires reasonable concern, not proof. Follow your local reporting requirements and organizational policy; do not conduct your own investigation. 6. **Write down the facts as soon as possible.** Record the child’s exact words, the date and time, who was present, what questions were asked, and how she responded. Do not add interpretations or diagnoses. Protect the child’s privacy. **Message the leader can use:** > “Thank you for telling me. You’re not in trouble, and I’m glad you told me. Can you tell me more about what you mean by ‘bad at home’? Are you safe going home today? I may need to share this with people who help keep children safe, but I’ll only tell them what they need to know.” If you are in the United States and need immediate guidance about suspected child abuse or neglect, contact your state child-protection reporting line or Childhelp at **1-800-422-4453**. For a mental health crisis, call or text **988**, or use chat at **988lifeline.org**. If anyone is in immediate physical danger, call **911**.

Tell her to **stay calm, stay with the child, and focus on safety—not on getting the whole story.** You could text: > “Thank you for letting me know. Stay with her in a calm, quiet space that follows our supervision rules. Tell her: ‘I’m glad you told me. You’re not in trouble. You don’t have to tell me everything right now. I want to help you be safe.’ > > “You can gently ask, ‘What do you mean by bad at home?’ If she stays quiet, don’t push. Ask only what’s needed for immediate safety, such as ‘Are you hurt?’ and ‘Do you feel safe going home today?’ Don’t suggest answers or ask her to repeat her story to multiple people. > > “Don’t promise secrecy. Say, ‘I may need to tell someone whose job is to help keep you safe, but I won’t tell everyone.’ Let me know right away if she mentions danger, injuries, or being afraid to leave.” **Then take these steps yourself:** - **Check immediate safety and pickup timing.** If there’s immediate danger or an urgent medical need, call emergency services. If pickup is imminent and you’re concerned that sending her home could put her at risk, contact child protection or police urgently for direction rather than handling the handoff as routine. - **Activate your safeguarding process now.** Contact your program’s safeguarding lead/designated administrator. Reporting duties vary by location, but staff working with children are often mandated reporters. **Don’t wait for proof or a complete disclosure**, and don’t assume telling a supervisor fulfills an individual reporting duty. If you’re unsure whether this meets the reporting threshold, promptly contact the local child-protection reporting line for guidance. - **Document facts promptly:** her exact words, when and where she said them, what the leader asked, her responses or silence, and any observed injuries or behavior. Avoid interpretations or conducting your own investigation. - **Don’t automatically call home or confront a caregiver.** If a caregiver might be involved, notifying them could increase risk. Get safeguarding/child-protection advice first. Share information only with people who need it to protect her. “Bad at home” doesn’t establish what’s happening, but **her going quiet is not a reason to dismiss it or pressure her**. What country/state are you in, and is she still at the program or due to be picked up soon?

Tell her to stay calm, take the child seriously, and **focus on safety—not getting the full story.** You can send this: > “Thank you for telling me. Keep her with a trusted staff member in a quiet place that follows our supervision rules. Say: ‘I’m glad you told me. You’re not in trouble. You don’t have to tell me everything right now. I want to help you be safe.’ > > “Ask gently: ‘When you say things are bad at home, what do you mean?’ If she stays quiet, don’t keep questioning. You can still ask: ‘Are you hurt or do you need help right now?’ and ‘Do you feel safe going home today?’ > > “Don’t promise secrecy. Say: ‘I may need to tell someone whose job is to help keep you safe, but I’ll explain what’s happening.’ Call me now so we can work out the next steps.” **Then take these steps:** - **Check immediate safety and pickup timing.** If she needs urgent medical care or appears to be in immediate danger, call emergency services. If she indicates that going home or leaving with the person collecting her would be unsafe, seek urgent direction from child protection or police **before the handoff**. Don’t leave the leader to manage this alone. - **Follow your safeguarding and reporting procedure now.** Notify your designated safeguarding lead, if you have one. Reporting duties vary by location and role, but mandated reporters generally do **not** need proof or a complete disclosure. Telling a supervisor may not satisfy an individual reporting duty. If you’re unsure whether this meets the threshold, call your local child-protection reporting line for guidance; don’t wait for the child to say more. - **Document promptly:** her exact words, when and where she said them, who was present, observable behavior, questions asked, and actions taken. Keep facts separate from interpretations and share only with people who need to know. - **Don’t investigate, ask leading questions, have several adults question her, or confront a suspected person.** Don’t automatically contact home about the disclosure first; that could increase risk. Get safeguarding guidance about whom to contact and when. “Bad at home” doesn’t establish abuse, but her silence doesn’t rule it out either. She can receive support and protection without having to produce a detailed account. **What country/state are you in, and is she still at the program or due to be picked up soon?**

Tell her to **stay calm, stay with the child, and check immediate safety without pressing for details.** “Bad at home” does not tell you exactly what happened, but it needs a careful response. You can text the leader: > “Thank you for telling me. Stay with her in a quiet space that follows our supervision rules. You can say: ‘I’m glad you told me. You’re not in trouble. You don’t have to tell me everything right now. I’m here to listen. I may need to tell someone whose job is to help keep you safe.’ > > “Ask gently: ‘Do you feel safe going home today?’ and ‘Is there anything you need right now to feel safe?’ Give her time. If she stays quiet, don’t push or ask her to repeat the story to other staff. Let me know immediately if she says she is hurt, in danger, or afraid to leave.” **Then take these steps:** 1. **Address any immediate danger.** If she needs urgent medical care or someone poses an immediate threat, call your local emergency number. Keep her supervised while help is arranged. 2. **Contact your program’s safeguarding lead now.** Follow your child-protection policy. If pickup is approaching and there is a safety concern, get urgent guidance from child-protection services or emergency services before proceeding with the usual handoff. Don’t leave the group leader to make that decision alone. 3. **Check reporting duties promptly.** Rules vary by location, but after-school staff may be mandated reporters. Reporting often requires reasonable suspicion—not proof or a full disclosure. An internal report to you may not fulfill the leader’s legal duty, and supervisor approval should not delay a required report. If uncertain, contact the local child-protection hotline for guidance. 4. **Don’t investigate or automatically contact home first.** Avoid leading questions such as “Did your dad hurt you?” Don’t confront anyone. A parent or caregiver may be a source of support, but contacting home before assessing safety could increase risk. Get safeguarding guidance first. 5. **Make a factual, secure record.** Record the time, her exact words—“bad at home”—what the leader asked, what happened next, and actions taken. Describe “she became quiet and did not answer further questions,” rather than interpreting why. Share only with people who need the information to protect her; avoid group texts. She can keep participating in a familiar activity with appropriate supervision. **She does not have to keep talking for adults to take her concern seriously.** What country and state or province are you in, and is she still at the program or due to be picked up soon?

Tell her to stay calm, stay with the child in a safe place, and focus on safety—not getting the full story. **She does not need to make the child explain what “bad at home” means.** You can text the leader: > “Thank you for telling me. Stay with her somewhere quiet, within our supervision rules. You can say: ‘I’m glad you told me. You’re not in trouble. You don’t have to tell me more right now. I’m here to listen. If I’m worried you aren’t safe, I’ll need to get help from people whose job is to help keep you safe.’ > > “Ask gently, one question at a time: ‘Do you feel safe going home today?’ and, if needed, ‘Do you need help right now?’ Give her time. Don’t press her for details or suggest what might have happened. Let me know right away if she describes immediate danger or needs medical help.” Then take these steps: 1. **Address any immediate danger.** If she needs urgent medical care or there is an immediate threat, call your local emergency number. Keep her appropriately supervised. If pickup is approaching and there is concern about her safety at home, seek urgent direction from child protection or emergency services before the handoff. Do not confront anyone who may be involved. 2. **Start your safeguarding process now.** Contact your program’s designated safeguarding or child-protection lead. Reporting duties vary by location and role. In many places, reasonable suspicion—not proof—is enough to require a report. **Telling a supervisor may not satisfy the leader’s own reporting duty**, and internal approval must not delay a required report. If unsure whether this information meets the threshold, promptly call the local child-protection intake line for guidance. 3. **Do not investigate.** Avoid repeated questions, leading questions such as “Did your dad hurt you?”, or asking the child to repeat the account to several staff members. If she talks more, listen without showing shock. Do not promise secrecy or promise what will happen next. 4. **Document facts promptly and securely.** Record her exact words—“bad at home”—the time, context, questions asked, responses, and actions taken. Describe observable behavior, such as “she stopped speaking,” rather than interpreting it. Share only with people who need the information to protect her; avoid circulating details in group texts. 5. **Do not automatically call home first.** Contacting a caregiver could increase risk or interfere with a child-protection response. Get guidance through your safeguarding process or child-protection agency about when and how to contact them. “Bad at home” does not establish what happened, but her silence does not resolve the concern either. She can receive support without giving a fuller account. **What country and state/province are you in, and is she still at the program or about to be picked up?** Those details affect the reporting route and immediate next steps.

Tell her: **“You don’t need to get the whole story right now. Stay calm, help her feel safe, and follow our child-safety reporting procedure.”** 1. **Stay with her in a quiet, supervised space.** Follow your program’s rules for one-to-one contact. Say: “Thank you for telling me. You’re not in trouble. You don’t have to tell me everything right now.” 2. **Check immediate safety with a few simple questions.** Ask: “Are you hurt or do you need help right now?” and “Do you feel safe going home today?” Let her answer in her own time. Don’t press for details, suggest answers, or ask her to repeat the story to several people. 3. **Be honest about privacy.** Say: “I can’t promise to keep this secret. I may need to tell someone whose job is to help keep you safe. I’ll explain what happens next.” 4. **Call you and your safeguarding lead now.** If anyone is in immediate physical danger, call **911 in the U.S.** or your local emergency number. If pickup is approaching and safety is uncertain, get guidance from child protection or emergency services before proceeding with dismissal. Don’t contact a caregiver who may be involved in the harm before getting that guidance. 5. **Follow reporting duties promptly.** You do not need proof to report suspected abuse or neglect. Requirements vary by location; contact the local child-protection reporting line for guidance. An internal report to a supervisor may not meet the leader’s own legal reporting duty. Don’t investigate or wait for a fuller disclosure before addressing a reporting concern. 6. **Document and debrief after immediate safety is addressed.** Record her exact words—“bad at home”—the time, what the leader observed, questions asked, and actions taken. Separate observations from interpretations. Use your secure reporting system, not a group text, and share only with people who need to know. Debrief privately with the safeguarding lead. **U.S. contacts** - **Immediate danger: 911** - **Childhelp, for guidance on child-safety concerns:** call or text **800-422-4453**; chat at **childhelphotline.org**. This does not replace a required report to child protection. - **Emotional crisis support:** call or text **988**; chat at **988lifeline.org**. What country/state are you in, and is she still at the program or due to leave soon?

Tell the leader she does not need to get the full story right now. Her job is to help the child feel safe, listen, and follow your child-safety reporting procedure. 1. **Stay with her in a quiet, supervised space.** Follow your program’s rules about adult–child contact. Arrange for another staff member to supervise the group. 2. **Respond calmly without pressing for details.** Say: “Thank you for telling me. You’re not in trouble. You don’t have to explain everything right now. I may need to tell someone whose job is to help keep you safe.” Do not promise secrecy. 3. **Ask only what is needed for immediate safety.** For example: “Are you hurt or do you need help right now?” and “Do you feel safe going home today?” Let her answer in her own words—or stay quiet. Do not suggest answers, investigate, or have several adults question her. 4. **Call you and your designated child-safety lead now.** If pickup is approaching and safety is uncertain, get guidance from child protection or emergency services before the handoff. Do not confront or automatically contact a caregiver who may be involved; ask child protection how to handle caregiver contact safely. 5. **Follow mandated-reporting requirements promptly.** A disclosure does not need to be complete, and staff do not need proof before reporting a reasonable suspicion. Requirements vary by location. Reporting to a supervisor may not fulfill the leader’s own legal duty. If there is immediate danger or an urgent injury, call **911 in the U.S.**, or your local emergency number. **Do not investigate or try to resolve the home situation tonight.** Her silence does not mean she has withdrawn what she said. Once immediate safety and reporting are addressed, document her exact words, when and where she spoke, observable behavior, staff responses, and calls made. Keep the record secure and share only with people who need it for safeguarding. Debrief privately with the child-safety lead. **U.S. contacts** - **Immediate danger: call 911.** - **Reporting guidance:** Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline—call or text **800-422-4453**, or chat at **childhelphotline.org**. This does not replace a required report to child protective services. - **Emotional crisis support:** call or text **988**, or chat at **988lifeline.org**. What country/state are you in, and is she still at the program or about to be picked up?

Tell her to take it seriously, stay calm, and **not press the child for details**. She can say: > “Thank you for telling me. I’m glad you did, and you’re not in trouble. You don’t have to tell me more right now. I can’t keep this just between us—I need to get help from the people whose job it is to help keep you safe. Are you worried about going home today, or do you need help right now?” Then ask the leader to: - Keep the child with a calm, trusted adult and follow the program’s safeguarding procedure. Don’t leave her alone or send her off without first addressing any immediate safety concern. - **Contact the program’s safeguarding lead/supervisor promptly and make any required report to the local child-protection service.** Reporting rules vary, but staff generally should report reasonable concerns—not wait for proof or conduct their own investigation. An internal report may not replace an individual legal duty. - If the child appears in immediate danger, is injured, or says she cannot safely go home, contact emergency services or the child-protection emergency line now and get guidance about a safe handoff. - Write down the child’s exact words, when and where she said them, what was asked and answered, and what the leader observed. Keep the notes secure and share only with people who need to act. - Don’t promise secrecy, ask leading or repeated questions, investigate, or confront/call the family before getting safeguarding guidance; that could increase risk or interfere with a response. “Bad at home” is vague, but it’s enough to act carefully and get the right safeguarding help involved.

Tell her to take it seriously, stay calm, and **not try to investigate**. She can say: > “I’m glad you told me. You don’t have to tell me anything else right now. I want to help keep you safe. Are you safe right now, and do you feel safe going home today?” If the child wants to say more, listen without pressing. Don’t promise to keep it secret; say you’ll share it only with people who need to help. Avoid leading questions, repeated questioning, or contacting the family before getting safeguarding guidance. Then have the leader: - Keep the child supervised and supported, following your organization’s child-safety procedures. - Tell your designated safeguarding lead immediately. If there’s an immediate threat, urgent injury, or the child says they aren’t safe now, contact emergency services. - Follow local child-protection reporting rules promptly. In many places, a staff member who is a mandated reporter must make the report themselves; telling a supervisor may not be enough. Don’t wait for proof. - Write down the child’s exact words, the time, what was asked, and what happened next—without adding interpretations. You could text the leader: **“Thank her for telling you, don’t press for details or promise secrecy, ask only whether she’s safe now/going home, and call me and our safeguarding lead right away. If she says she’s in immediate danger, call emergency services. Document her exact words.”**

Tell her to stay calm, thank the child for telling her, and avoid pressing for details. She can say: > “Thank you for telling me. You don’t have to tell me more right now. I’m glad you came to me. I can’t promise to keep this secret, because I may need to tell someone whose job is to help keep you safe. I’ll only share it with the people who need to know.” Then ask only what’s needed to understand immediate safety, such as: **“Are you safe to go home today?”** Don’t ask leading questions, investigate, or promise a particular outcome. Keep the child with a trusted adult and follow your program’s child-safety policy. Contact the designated safeguarding lead or supervisor promptly, and follow local reporting requirements. If the child may be in immediate danger, contact emergency services. The leader should write down the child’s exact words, when she said them, and what the leader did next. Don’t contact or confront anyone at home unless the safeguarding lead advises it.

Tell her to stay calm, thank the child for telling her, and avoid pressing for details. She can say: > “I’m glad you told me. You don’t have to tell me more right now. I want to help keep you safe, so I may need to share this with someone whose job is to help.” Then ask only what’s needed to understand immediate safety, using an open question such as, “Are you safe to go home today?” Don’t promise to keep it secret, ask leading questions, investigate, or contact family members before getting safeguarding guidance. She should contact your program’s designated safeguarding lead now and follow your child-safety and reporting procedures. Record the child’s exact words, the time, and what the leader observed and did. If the child may be in immediate danger, contact emergency services.

Tell the group leader to stay calm and do this now: 1. **Check immediate safety.** If the child may be in danger right now, or cannot safely leave, call 911 and contact your organization’s safeguarding lead or on-call supervisor. Keep the child with a trusted adult and follow your program’s safety procedures. 2. **Respond without pressing for details.** The leader can say: “Thank you for telling me. You don’t have to say more right now. I can’t keep this just between us, because I may need to tell someone who can help keep you safe.” 3. **Ask only what’s needed to understand immediate safety.** For example: “Are you safe right now?” and “Are you worried about going home today?” Don’t investigate, ask leading questions, or promise secrecy. 4. **Report promptly.** Contact the safeguarding lead or supervisor and follow your organization’s child-protection and mandated-reporting procedures. Don’t wait for proof or conduct your own investigation. Don’t contact a caregiver or anyone the child may be referring to before getting guidance. 5. **Write down what happened.** Record the child’s exact words, the time and date, what the leader said, and who was notified. Keep the information private and share it only with people responsible for responding. If you’re in the U.S., Childhelp can provide guidance at **1-800-422-4453** (call or text), but this does not replace any required report. If anyone is in immediate danger, call **911**. If the child expresses thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text **988** or use **988lifeline.org** chat.

Text her this: > Stay calm and thank her for telling you. You can say, “I’m glad you told me. You don’t have to tell me more right now. I want to make sure you’re safe.” Don’t press for details or promise to keep this secret. > > Ask only whether she is in immediate danger or needs urgent help right now. Stay with her in a safe, supervised place, and contact our safeguarding lead or on-call supervisor now. Follow our child-safety and reporting procedures. If she may be unsafe going home, get guidance from the safeguarding lead or child-protection authorities before she leaves. If there’s immediate danger, call 911. > > Write down her exact words, the time, and what you did. Don’t investigate or confront anyone at home. If the child says more, listen without leading questions and reassure her she did the right thing by telling you. Keep details private and share them only with people responsible for her safety. If you can’t reach the safeguarding lead or supervisor, contact local child-protection services. In the U.S., call or text the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at **1-800-422-4453**. For immediate danger, call **911**. For crisis support, call or text **988**, or chat at **988lifeline.org/chat**.

Tell the leader to **stay calm, keep the child supported, and take this seriously without trying to investigate.** She doesn’t need to get the whole story. You can text her: > “Thank you for telling me right away. Stay with her in a quiet, safe place that follows our supervision rules. Say: ‘I’m glad you told me. You’re not in trouble. You don’t have to tell me everything right now. I may need to ask someone whose job is to help keep you safe.’ > > “You can gently ask, ‘What do you mean by “bad at home”?’ If she stays quiet, don’t push. Check immediate safety: ‘Are you hurt or do you need medical help?’ and ‘Are you worried about going home today?’ Don’t suggest answers, ask repeated questions, or promise secrecy. Let me know her exact words and whether pickup is coming soon.” Then take these steps: - **Address immediate danger first.** If she has a serious injury, needs urgent care, or indicates she is in immediate danger, call emergency services. If she says going home or leaving with someone is unsafe, seek urgent guidance from child protection or emergency services **before the handoff**. - **Follow your safeguarding procedures promptly.** Contact your designated safeguarding lead, if you have one. Staff may be mandated reporters; telling a supervisor may **not** fulfill an individual reporting duty. Reporting generally requires reasonable suspicion—not proof or a complete disclosure. - **Document facts now:** the child’s exact words, time, context, observations, questions asked, and actions taken. Avoid interpretations; share only with people who need to know. - **Don’t automatically call home or confront anyone.** If a caregiver could be involved, contacting them could increase risk. Get safeguarding or child-protection guidance first. “Bad at home” alone doesn’t establish abuse, but her silence doesn’t make the concern go away. **Don’t wait for her to disclose more before getting safeguarding advice.** What country/state are you in, and is she still at the program or due to be picked up soon?

Tell her to **stay calm, keep the child supported, and not try to get the whole story.** She doesn’t need to determine whether abuse occurred before taking a safety concern seriously. You can text her: > “Thanks for telling me right away. Stay with her somewhere quiet but within our normal supervision rules. You can say: ‘Thank you for telling me. I’m glad you did. You’re not in trouble. You don’t have to tell me everything right now. I may need to get help from people whose job is to keep kids safe.’ > > “Gently ask, ‘When you say things are bad at home, what do you mean?’ If she doesn’t answer, don’t press or suggest answers. Check immediate safety: ‘Are you hurt or do you need medical help?’ and ‘Do you feel safe going home today?’ Listen if she talks, and use her words rather than interpreting them.” Then take these steps: - **If there is immediate danger, a serious injury, or an imminent threat, call emergency services.** If pickup is approaching and she may be unsafe leaving, seek urgent direction from child protection or emergency services rather than simply sending her home. - **Activate your program’s safeguarding process now.** Notify the designated safeguarding lead. Reporting requirements vary by location, but staff may be mandated reporters; an internal notification may **not** satisfy an individual’s reporting duty. Don’t wait for a detailed disclosure or proof. If unsure whether the information meets the reporting threshold, promptly contact the local child-protection reporting line for guidance. - **Document promptly:** her exact words, what was asked, her responses, any observable injuries or behavior, the time, and actions taken. Avoid guesses or labels. - **Don’t promise secrecy, investigate, confront anyone, or automatically call home.** Contacting a possible source of harm could increase risk; get safeguarding/child-protection guidance first. Share information only with people who need it to protect her. “Bad at home” can mean many things, but the silence is not a reason to dismiss it—or to push harder. **What country/state are you in, and is she still at the program or about to be picked up?**

Tell her to **stay with the child, stay calm, and not push for more details.** Take what the child said seriously without assuming what “bad at home” means. You can send this: > “Thank you for telling me. Stay with her in a quiet place that follows our supervision rules. Say: ‘I’m glad you told me. You don’t have to explain everything right now. I’m here to listen. If you need help staying safe, I’ll need to talk with someone who can help.’ > > “Give her time. You can gently ask, ‘When you say things are bad at home, what do you mean?’ If she stays quiet, don’t keep questioning her. Ask only what is needed for immediate safety, such as ‘Do you feel safe going home today?’ Don’t suggest answers or promise to keep this secret. > > “Let me know immediately if she says she is in danger, needs medical help, or is afraid of someone who is coming to collect her.” **Then take these steps:** 1. **Check immediate safety and pickup timing.** If there is an immediate threat or serious injury, contact emergency services. If pickup is soon and there is concern about sending her home safely, get urgent guidance from child protection or police before the handoff. Keep her supervised while you do. 2. **Activate your safeguarding process now.** Contact your program’s designated safeguarding lead. Follow local reporting law. If the leader is a mandated reporter, telling you may not fulfill her own reporting duty. Do not wait for proof, a fuller disclosure, or internal approval when a report is required. 3. **Do not investigate or contact the family first.** Contacting a caregiver could increase risk or affect a child-protection response. Get guidance from the safeguarding lead or child-protection agency about whom to contact and when. 4. **Document promptly and factually.** Record the child’s exact words—“bad at home”—the date and time, who was present, what the leader observed, any questions asked, and actions taken. Don’t add interpretations. Use your secure reporting system and share only with people who need to know. **What country and state or province are you in, and is she still at the program?** That will help identify the reporting route and any urgent pickup considerations.

Tell her to stay calm, stay with the child, and focus on whether she is safe right now—not on getting the full story. **You can send the leader this:** > “Thank you for telling me right away. Stay with her in a quiet place that follows our supervision rules. Don’t press her to explain or promise to keep it secret. > > You can say: ‘Thank you for telling me. You’re not in trouble. You don’t have to tell me everything right now. I’m listening. I may need to ask someone whose job is to help keep children safe.’ > > Ask gently: ‘When you say things are bad at home, what do you mean?’ Give her time. If she stays quiet, don’t repeat the question or guess what happened. You can ask, ‘Do you feel safe going home today?’ > > Let me know immediately if she says she is in danger, needs medical help, or is afraid of the person coming to collect her.” **Then take these steps:** 1. **Address any immediate danger.** If there is an urgent threat or serious injury, call your local emergency number. Keep her supervised while help is arranged. 2. **Activate your safeguarding procedure now.** Contact your program’s designated safeguarding lead. If pickup is approaching and safety is uncertain, get urgent guidance from child protection or emergency services before the child leaves. 3. **Follow reporting duties without waiting for more disclosure.** “Bad at home” does not establish what happened, but her silence does not remove the concern. Reporting requirements vary by location; many after-school staff are mandated reporters. Contact the local child protection reporting line for guidance and make any required report promptly. Telling a supervisor may not satisfy the leader’s own reporting duty, and internal approval should not delay a report. 4. **Record facts, not interpretations.** Write down the time, her exact words—“bad at home”—the questions asked, her responses or silence, and actions taken. Preserve the original text securely. Don’t circulate details in group chats or ask her to repeat the account to multiple staff. 5. **Do not contact a parent or caregiver about the disclosure before getting safeguarding guidance.** Depending on what is happening, that could increase risk. Don’t confront anyone or investigate yourselves. **What country and state or province are you in, and is she still at the program or due to be picked up soon?** That will help identify the reporting route and the immediate next step.

Tell the leader: **Stay calm, stay with her, and don’t press for details. She does not need to explain more to be taken seriously.** 1. **Move somewhere quiet and safe, within your program’s supervision rules.** Keep her away from the group’s attention without leaving her alone or isolated with an adult. 2. **Use a few calm words, then allow silence:** > “Thank you for telling me. You’re not in trouble. You don’t have to tell me more right now. I may need to share this with someone whose job is to help keep you safe.” Don’t promise secrecy. 3. **Ask only what is needed for immediate safety:** > “Do you feel safe going home today?” > “Do you need help right now?” Don’t guess what happened, suggest answers, or ask her to repeat the story to several adults. If she speaks, listen without investigating. 4. **Contact your safeguarding lead or program director now.** Tell them her exact words, that she became quiet, and when pickup is due. If someone is threatening her, she has a serious injury, or there is immediate danger, call **911**. 5. **Address pickup before she leaves.** If home or the person collecting her may be unsafe, get urgent direction from child protection or police before the handoff. Don’t contact or confront a person who may be involved without that guidance. 6. **Follow your local child-abuse reporting requirements promptly.** You do not need proof to report a reasonable concern. Reporting to a supervisor may not fulfill an individual mandated reporter’s duty. If you’re unsure whether this meets the reporting threshold, call your local child-protection reporting line for guidance now; don’t wait for her to disclose more. **Once immediate safety is addressed:** Have the leader record the child’s exact words, the questions asked, her responses, observations, times, and actions taken. Keep the record secure. Avoid more identifying details in ordinary texts. Debrief privately with the safeguarding lead after the child has a safe plan. **U.S. contacts:** Immediate danger: **911**. Childhelp can help you find the right reporting route: call or text **800-422-4453**, or chat at **childhelphotline.org**. It is not a substitute for an official child-protection report. What country/state are you in, and is she still at the program or due to be picked up soon?

Tell the leader she does not need to get the full story right now. Her job is to help the child feel safe, check for immediate danger, and follow your child-protection procedures. 1. **Stay nearby in a quiet, supervised space.** Follow your program’s rules for one-to-one contact. Do not press her to talk or leave her alone. 2. **Respond calmly.** Say: “Thank you for telling me. You’re not in trouble. You don’t have to explain everything right now. I may need to share this with someone whose job is to help keep you safe.” 3. **Ask only brief safety questions.** For example: “Are you hurt or do you need help right now?” and “Do you feel safe going home today?” Let her answer in her own words. Avoid guessing, suggesting answers, or repeatedly asking what happened. Silence does not mean she is safe—or that abuse has occurred. 4. **If there is immediate danger or an urgent injury, call emergency services.** In the U.S., call **911**. If she says going home is unsafe, or pickup raises an immediate safety concern, contact child-protection authorities or emergency services before the handoff. Do not try to resolve that decision alone. 5. **Contact your designated safeguarding lead or on-call supervisor now.** Follow local reporting law. If the information raises reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect, a mandated reporter should report promptly to the appropriate child-protection agency. **Do not wait for proof, a fuller disclosure, or a supervisor’s permission.** An internal report may not satisfy the legal duty. 6. **Do not contact or confront a possible person causing harm.** Get guidance from child-protection authorities before contacting a parent or caregiver if doing so could increase risk. Do not investigate or promise secrecy. 7. **Document after immediate safety is addressed.** Record the child’s exact words—“bad at home”—the time, context, observations, questions asked, and actions taken. Separate facts from interpretations. Keep the record secure and share only with people responsible for safeguarding, not in group texts. Arrange a private staff debrief afterward. **Contacts to have ready:** your safeguarding lead **[name/number]**, local child-protection reporting line **[number]**, and **911** for immediate danger in the U.S. For emotional crisis support in the U.S., call or text **988**, or chat at **988lifeline.org**; this does not replace a child-protection report. What country and state or province are you in, and is she still at the program or due to be picked up soon?

Tell her to stay calm, not dig for details, and treat this as a possible safety concern—not something to investigate herself or keep quiet about. What she should do with the child right now: - Find a quiet, private spot with another staff member nearby if your policy requires two adults. - Say something simple: “Thank you for telling me. You did the right thing. You’re not in trouble, and I want to help.” - Do not promise secrecy. Say: “I may need to tell someone whose job is to help keep kids safe.” - Do not ask leading questions or press for what “bad” means. If the child wants to talk, listen and write down her exact words afterward. If she goes quiet, don’t push. - Ask only what you need for immediate safety: “Are you safe to go home today?” and “Is anyone hurting you right now?” - Stay with her, keep the tone ordinary, and don’t discuss it in front of other kids. What you should tell the leader to do next: - Follow your program’s safeguarding / mandatory-reporting policy immediately and notify you or the designated lead. - If the child describes abuse or neglect, seems afraid to go home, or there is any reason to suspect she is being harmed, report it to child protective services or your local equivalent. In many places after-school staff are mandated reporters; “I’m not sure” is not a reason to wait. Reporting is based on reasonable suspicion, not proof. - If she is in immediate danger, call emergency services. - Do not contact the parents to “check the story” or confront them before you know what your policy and the authorities require. That can put the child at risk. - Write down, the same day: date, time, exact words, what the child looked like, who else was present, and what staff did. Opinions stay out of the note. You can text the leader something like: “Don’t question her further and don’t promise to keep it secret. Thank her, stay with her, and call me now. We’ll follow our reporting steps. If you think she is in immediate danger, call emergency services.” If your program doesn’t have a written policy or a designated person for this, treat that as urgent to fix after this child is safe. I’m not a lawyer; local reporting rules differ, so use your agency’s protocol or the child-protection hotline in your area if you’re unsure whether this meets the threshold.

Tell the leader to stay calm, not dig for details, and hand this to the person responsible for child safety right away. A vague “things are bad at home” is enough to act on; she does not need a full story. What she should do with the child: - Find a quiet, private moment. Thank the child for saying something and say she did the right thing. - Do not promise secrecy. Say something like: “I’m glad you told me. I may need to tell someone whose job is to help keep kids safe, but I won’t talk about it with other kids.” - Listen. Don’t interview, press for names, or ask leading questions. If the child wants to say more, let her. If she goes quiet, don’t push. - Reassure her she is not in trouble and that the adults will help. - If she describes current danger (being hurt tonight, afraid to go home, threats), keep her with a trusted adult and treat it as urgent—do not send her home while you sort it out. What the leader should not do: - Investigate, confront a parent, or call home to “check” before talking to the program’s designated person. That can put the child at more risk. - Share it with other staff or parents as gossip. Only people who need to know. What you should tell her to do next: - Contact you and the program’s supervisor or child-safety lead immediately, while details are fresh. - Write down only facts: exact words, date, time, who was present, the child’s demeanor, and what the leader said back. No guesses or interpretations. - Follow your program’s reporting policy. In many places, after-school staff are mandated reporters. If there is reason to suspect abuse or neglect, a report to child protective services (or the local equivalent) may be required—often by the person who heard it, not only by a supervisor. If you are unsure whether this meets the threshold, call the hotline and ask; consulting is allowed and does not require a complete disclosure from the child. - If the child is in immediate danger, call emergency services. You can give the leader a short script: “Thank you for telling me. You don’t have to say more right now. I’m going to talk with [supervisor] so we can make sure you’re safe. You’re not in trouble.” Then you take the lead: confirm the child is safe for the rest of the session, decide together whether a report is required, and support the leader so she isn’t carrying this alone.

Tell her this: Stay with the child. Keep your voice calm and your face open. You do not need more details right now. You can say: “Thank you for telling me. I’m glad you said something. You do not have to say more if you don’t want to. I may need to tell another adult so we can help keep you safe. You are not in trouble.” Then stop. Do not ask what happened, who did what, or whether anyone hurt her. Do not promise to keep it a secret. Do not call or text her family about this before we talk. Write down her exact words, the time, and who else was there. Text or call me as soon as you can step away, and stay with her until I say otherwise. If you believe she is in immediate danger, call emergency services first, then me. I’ll take it from there and follow our reporting steps. Your job is to listen, not to investigate.

Tell her she did the right thing by not pushing and by telling you. She should not question the child further, promise secrecy, or contact the family. You can send her this: --- Thank you for telling me. You handled this well by staying with her, not pressing for details, and letting me know. Please don’t ask her more questions or try to get the story. Don’t promise you can keep it private. If she says more on her own, listen, stay calm, and write down her exact words, the time, and who was there. Then tell me right away. You can say: “Thank you for telling me. I’m glad you said something. I’m going to talk with [your name] so we can help. You don’t have to say anything else right now.” Don’t talk with her family about this unless I ask you to. If she says she is afraid to go home, says someone is hurting her, or you see an injury, call me immediately. If you think she is in danger right now and you can’t reach me, call emergency services. Stay nearby and keep the rest of the afternoon as normal as you can. I’ll take it from here. --- You should document her exact words, the time, and who was present. Follow your program’s safeguarding and mandated-reporting policy today. “Bad at home,” with nothing more, is not a full picture, but it is enough to act on: a designated staff person follows up, not the group leader, and you consult your supervisor or local child-protection hotline about whether a report is required. Laws differ by place. If she may not be safe going home today, treat that as urgent and call emergency services if needed.

Tell her this. Keep it short. Call her if you can. 1. If the child is in immediate danger, call 911. 2. Stay with the child. Keep your voice calm. Do not ask more questions. 3. She can say: “Thank you for telling me. You don’t have to say anything else right now. I’m going to get help so you’re safe. I won’t talk about this with the other kids.” 4. Do not promise to keep it a secret. 5. Have her call you now. If she cannot reach you, she calls the on-call supervisor. 6. Do not contact the child’s family about this until you follow your reporting steps. 7. Do not put details in a group text or tell staff who do not need to know. What not to do right now: - Do not press for what “bad at home” means. - Do not investigate or try to fix the home situation tonight. - Do not diagnose or guess what happened. After the child is with a safe adult: - Write down the child’s exact words, the time, and who was there. Facts only. - Follow your mandatory reporting policy. You and the designated reporter decide whether to contact child protective services. When you are unsure, use the official channel. Do not keep questioning the child. You are not expected to be a clinician. Get a supervisor or the reporting lead involved for anything beyond these steps. Protect the child’s privacy. Document after everyone is safe. **Who to call** - Emergency: 911 - You / on-call supervisor: [your number] - Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 (call or text) - 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 - Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741 911 if anyone is in immediate danger. Childhelp: 1-800-422-4453. 988: call or text. Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741.

Tell her this now: 1. If the child is in immediate danger, call 911. Stay with her. Do not send her home until you and I have a plan. 2. Do not ask more questions. Do not promise to keep this secret. Say: “Thank you for telling me. You don’t have to say anything else. I’m going to stay with you, and I’m going to get help so you’re safe. I won’t talk about this with the other kids.” 3. Call me now. If you can’t reach me, call your on-call supervisor. 4. Do not contact the family about what she said. Do not put details in a group text. 5. After she is safe with a trusted adult, write down only what she said, when, and who was there. Do not add guesses. If you have reason to suspect abuse or neglect, follow our reporting steps tonight. You do not need to be sure. **Call** - Emergency: 911 - Me / on-call supervisor: now - Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 - 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 - Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741 Do not try to solve what is happening at home tonight. Document after everyone is safe.

This is worth taking seriously, and the fact that she went quiet after saying it is actually significant — that's a very common pattern when kids are testing whether it's safe to say more. Here's what I'd tell your leader: **Right now:** - **Don't press her for more.** No probing questions, no "what do you mean by bad?" Untrained questioning can shut a child down for good or complicate things later if there's a real investigation. One gentle, low-pressure opening is fine: *"I'm really glad you told me that. If you ever want to talk more, I'm here."* Then let it go. - **Write everything down today.** The child's exact words, what was happening right before she said it, her tone and body language, date, time, who was around. Objective facts only, no interpretation. Memory fades fast and verbatim notes matter. - **Don't promise to keep it secret** if she brings it up again. If she asks, the leader can say something like, *"I care about you, and if someone is being hurt I might need to tell someone whose job is keeping kids safe."* - **Don't contact the parents about this.** That's the instinct many people have, and if something is wrong at home, it can put the child at risk or lead to her being coached into silence. **Reporting:** - Your leader is almost certainly a mandated reporter, and the legal duty typically sits with the person who heard the disclosure — it can't just be handed up the chain. The standard is *reasonable suspicion*, not proof. - "Things are bad at home" alone is ambiguous, and she doesn't have to decide alone whether it crosses the line. She (or you, together) can call your local child protective services hotline, describe exactly what was said and observed, and ask whether it warrants a report. That's a completely legitimate use of the hotline. - If the child says anything specific suggesting abuse or neglect, or expresses fear about going home, report immediately — same day. If she seems in imminent danger, that's a 911 situation. **If the child opens up again:** - Stay calm, listen, don't react with shock or anger. - Use only open prompts: *"Tell me more."* Never leading questions ("Did someone hit you?"). - Reassure her: *"This is not your fault. You did the right thing telling me."* **Going forward:** keep her routine normal, watch for other signs (changes in behavior, fear of pickup time, physical marks, regression), and document anything new. And check in with your leader afterward — carrying this alone is hard, and she did the right thing by flagging it to you. One caveat: reporting specifics vary by state, so if your program has a child protection policy, pull it out now and follow it. If you want, I can help you draft the exact words your leader could use with the child, or think through the hotline call.

Tell her she did exactly the right thing by flagging it to you — and then give her clear direction, because what happens next matters. **Right now:** - **Don't press the child for more.** No "what do you mean by bad?" Kids often disclose a little, then retreat — that's normal. Pushing can shut her down for good or complicate things later. - **Write it down verbatim.** Exactly what the child said, word for word, plus when, where, what was happening, and her demeanor. Do it tonight while it's fresh. Facts only, no interpretation. - **Check immediate safety.** Did the child seem scared to go home? Any visible injuries or signs she's in danger tonight? If yes, call your state's child abuse hotline before she leaves — and 911 if you believe she's in immediate danger. **Reporting:** - In most states, after-school program staff are **mandated reporters**. The legal standard is *reasonable suspicion*, not proof — and it's not your job or the leader's to investigate what "bad" means. - A vague statement like this may or may not meet the threshold on its own, which is exactly why the right move is to **call your state child abuse hotline and describe what was said and observed**. They'll tell you whether it constitutes a report, and the call creates a record either way. (Childhelp's national line, 1-800-422-4453, can help you find your state's number.) - Depending on your state, the legal obligation may sit with the person who *heard* the disclosure — so the leader may need to make the call herself, with you supporting her. Check your organization's child protection policy too; most programs have a protocol. - Don't wait to see if she says more. Reports should be prompt. **What not to do:** - **Don't contact the parents about the disclosure.** If something is wrong at home, tipping them off can endanger the child or lead to coaching. - **Don't promise secrecy.** If the child asks the leader not to tell, the honest answer is: "I care about you, and there are people whose job is to keep kids safe — I may need to share this with them." - **Don't ask leading questions** ("Did someone hurt you?"). If she brings it up again, stay calm, listen, and at most say "I'm glad you told me" or "Do you want to tell me more?" - Share this only on a need-to-know basis. **Going forward:** - The child picked this leader for a reason. The best thing she can do now is be warm, steady, and *normal* — not awkward, not hovering. If more comes out, document it the same way. - You may never learn the outcome of a report — CPS can't share that. It's frustrating but normal, and it doesn't mean reporting didn't matter. - Debrief with the leader. This is heavy to carry, and she should know her job isn't to solve it — just to do her part, which she's already doing.

She did the right thing by texting you. Here's what to pass on, and what to do next. **Tell the leader: don't dig for more.** Her job is not to get the full story. Pressing or asking probing questions can upset the child and can complicate things if professionals need to talk with her later. The child shared what she was ready to share. Going quiet is a normal response, not a problem to fix. **What the leader can say to the child** (at the time, or next session if the program day is over): - "Thank you for telling me. You did the right thing." - "This is not your fault." - "I care about you, and there are people whose job is to help. I may need to share this with them." - "You can talk to me anytime." Then keep things warm and normal. No promises of secrecy — she can't keep that one. **What the leader should not do:** - Don't ask leading questions ("Did someone hurt you?"). - Don't react with shock or alarm in front of the child. - Don't contact the parents about it on her own. - Don't discuss it with other staff or families. **Your next steps as the supervisor:** 1. Have the leader write down exactly what the child said, in the child's own words, with the date, time, and what was happening before and after. Facts only, no guesses about what "bad" means. 2. Follow your program's safeguarding and mandated reporting policy. In most places, youth program staff are mandated reporters, and the standard is reasonable suspicion — not proof. Deciding whether this meets the threshold is not the leader's call or yours alone; bring it to your designated safeguarding lead, or call your local child protection hotline and ask. They will tell you whether a report is warranted. (In the US, Childhelp's national hotline is 1-800-422-4453 and can point you to your state line.) 3. Hold off on any parent contact until the safeguarding lead or hotline advises you. If home is the concern, an early heads-up can sometimes make things less safe for the child. 4. Keep the child's routine steady, and note anything else you observe, factually, going forward. 5. Check in with the leader. Carrying a disclosure like this is hard, and she'll be watching you for cues that she handled it right. She did. One caveat: reporting laws and thresholds vary by state and country, so your organization's policy and local hotline are the authority here. If you ever have reason to believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911 first.

She did the right thing by flagging it, and there's a clear way to handle this. Here's a message you can send her now, then your follow-up steps. **Text her back:** > You handled this well. A few things for tonight: > - Don't ask her any more questions about it. If she brings it up again, just listen and stay calm. You can say: "I'm really glad you told me. You didn't do anything wrong." > - Don't promise to keep it a secret. > - As soon as you can, write down exactly what she said, word for word, plus the time and what was happening when she said it. Facts only, no guesses. > - Don't contact her parents about this. > - If she's still with you and seems scared to go home, call me right away — we may need to keep her with us and call the hotline or police before pickup. > > We'll talk tomorrow about next steps. **Then, on your end:** 1. **Get her written account.** Dated, in the child's own words, plus anything else the leader has observed lately (changes in mood, behavior, appearance). No interpretations — just what was said and seen. 2. **Check your mandated reporter obligations.** In most states, after-school staff who work with children are mandated reporters. In many states, the person who heard the disclosure has to make the report themselves — telling a supervisor doesn't fulfill the legal duty. Look up your state's rule tonight. 3. **When in doubt, call the hotline.** "Bad at home" could mean many things — family conflict, money stress, illness, or something that puts her at risk. It's not your job to figure out which, and you don't need proof. Call your state's child protective services hotline, describe exactly what was said and observed, and let them tell you whether it meets the threshold for a report. If you don't have the number, Childhelp's national hotline (1-800-422-4453) can direct you. 4. **Don't contact the parents about the disclosure.** If a caregiver is part of what's wrong, a heads-up from the program could put the child at risk or compromise an investigation. Let CPS handle family contact. 5. **Plan for her next session.** Keep things normal and warm — same routines, nothing that singles her out. If she raises it again, the leader can listen and say: "Thank you for telling me. My job is to help keep you safe, so I might need to share this with people whose job is helping kids and families." 6. **Support the leader, and fix any gaps.** Debrief with her — carrying a disclosure is hard. And if your program doesn't have a written child protection policy and reporting training, this is the week to start both. If you tell me your state, I can be more specific about the reporting rules that apply to you.

She did the right thing by texting you, and the child did a brave thing by speaking. Here is what to tell her, and what you do next. ## Right now — tell the leader to: 1. Stay calm and stay near the child. No big reaction. 2. If the child says she cannot go home safely tonight, call 911. 3. Do not ask more questions about what "bad" means. If the child talks, listen. Do not dig. 4. If the child says more, she can say: "Thank you for telling me. This is not your fault. I have to share this with someone whose job is keeping kids safe." 5. Do not promise to keep it a secret. 6. Write down the child's exact words, the time, and what happened right before she spoke. Facts only. 7. Say nothing about this to the parent or caregiver at pickup. No confrontation, no hints. ## Then — your steps as program lead: 1. Have the leader call you before the child leaves, not just text. 2. Follow your organization's child protection policy now, if you have one. 3. Youth program staff are mandated reporters in most states. That means you report **reasonable suspicion** — you do not need proof or more details, and you should not try to get them. 4. Call your state's Child Protective Services, or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at **1-800-422-4453** (call or text). They can tell you whether what you have meets the reporting threshold and walk you through filing. 5. Filing a report is not an accusation. It is asking trained people to check on a child's safety. ## What not to do: - Do not investigate. Leading questions can harm the child and any future case. - Do not contact the family. - Do not wait to "see if it happens again." Report based on today. - Do not discuss it with other staff or parents. Privacy protects the child. ## Debrief: - Talk with the leader tonight or tomorrow morning, just the two of you. She may be shaken. That is normal, and she should not carry it alone. - Decide who files the report — usually the person who heard the disclosure, with your support. - Document what was said, who was told, and what was done. Store it confidentially. - Loop in your director or designated safeguarding lead per policy. **Numbers again:** - Immediate danger: **911** - Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: **1-800-422-4453** (call or text), childhelphotline.org - If either of you needs crisis support: **988** (call or text)

She did the right thing by texting you. Here's what to tell her, and what to do yourself. **Tell the leader right now:** 1. Stay calm and stay near the child. Don't leave her alone if she seems upset. 2. Don't press her to say more. If she talks, listen. Don't ask questions like "Did someone hurt you?" — gathering details is the job of trained investigators, not program staff. 3. If she needs words, give her these: "Thank you for telling me. I'm going to get some help to make sure you're okay." Do not promise to keep it a secret. That's a promise no one can keep here. 4. Write down exactly what the child said, in her own words, plus the time and who was present. Do it now, before details fade. Facts only, no interpretations. **You, as the supervisor:** 1. Decide whether it's safe for her to go home today. If she has said or shown anything that suggests she's unsafe — an injury, fear of going home, anything about being hurt — call 911 or your state child abuse reporting line before pickup and follow their instructions. 2. Make a report to your state's child protective services today. Program staff are typically mandated reporters, and the duty to report is triggered by suspicion — you do not need proof, and you should not try to get more details first. Follow your program's reporting policy. If you're unsure whether this rises to that level, call and let them decide. 3. Loop in your program director or designated reporting lead now, if that's not you. 4. Do not notify the parent or guardian about the disclosure before you report. CPS will direct when and how the family is informed. 5. Document everything in your incident system: the child's exact words, what was observed, who you called, and when. **What not to do:** - Don't investigate or ask follow-up questions. - Don't promise the child secrecy. - Don't contact the family on your own. - Don't discuss this with other staff or other parents. Keep identifying details out of texts — use your documentation system. **After everyone is safe:** - Check in with the leader within a day or two. Receiving a disclosure is hard. Debrief what happened, what was done, and how she's doing. Follow up on the report's status per your policy. **Numbers:** - Immediate danger: **911** - Your state child abuse reporting line (in your mandated reporter policy) - Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, 24/7, call or text: **1-800-422-4453** — they can also help you think through whether and how to report

Tell her to stay calm, stay with the child, and not try to get more details right now. Her job in this moment is to be supportive, keep the child safe, and pass exactly what was said to you so a report can be made. Here’s a text you can copy/paste to her right now: > Thank you for telling me right away. Stay near her, in a place where other adults can see you but other kids can't hear. Don't press her to say more. You can say: "Thank you for trusting me. I'm glad you told me. It's okay if you don't want to say more right now. You're not in trouble, and it's not your fault. I care about you and I want you to be safe, so I may need to tell another adult whose job is to help keep kids safe." > > Don't promise to keep it a secret. Don't ask questions like "Did someone hurt you?" or "What did your mom/dad do?" If she starts talking again on her own, just listen and let her use her own words. > > Please write down for me as soon as you can: the time, exactly what she said in quotes — "bad at home" — and what you noticed (quiet, teary, withdrawn, etc.). Don't share this with other staff or parents. I'm going to handle the next steps now. Let me know immediately if she seems afraid to go home or tries to tell you more. ### What she should NOT do - Don't investigate or interview her. Repeated or leading questions can hurt a later investigation and can shut a child down. - Don't react with shock, anger, or disbelief. - Don't confront or tip off a parent/caregiver about what she said. - Don't discuss it with other kids, other group leaders, or on group chats. - Don't let her be alone in a closed room with one adult — quiet, but observable, is safest for everyone. If she *does* volunteer more, it's okay for the leader to use one or two minimal, open prompts like "Can you tell me what you mean by bad?" and "Are you hurt right now?" — then stop. Listen, don't fill in blanks. ### What you need to do as the supervisor 1. **Treat this as a potential mandated report.** In most states, after-school staff are mandated reporters, and so are you. You usually can't just pass it up the chain — the person who heard it may legally need to make the report themselves, with your support. Follow your organization's child protection policy and your state law, and don't wait until pickup or tomorrow. 2. **Assess immediate safety at pickup.** Call the leader (don't just text) and ask: Is she injured? Is she clinging, hiding, or panicked about leaving? Who is picking her up today? If she appears to be in immediate danger or is terrified to leave, stall safely, call your designated safeguarding lead / director, and call 911 or your local Child Protective Services hotline for guidance. Don't physically block a parent yourself — get help. 3. **Report promptly.** If you have reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect, call your state CPS hotline. In the U.S. you can also call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 to find your local number. Notifying a school counselor or your director does *not* replace a CPS report if one is required. Stick to facts when you report: child's full name/DOB if you have it, "bad at home" as a direct quote, time/place, demeanor afterward, and that she then became quiet and would not elaborate. 4. **Document factually and securely.** Date, time, location, who was present, exact words, observable behavior. No opinions like "I think she's being abused." Keep it in your confidential safeguarding file, not on personal phones longer than needed to transfer it. 5. **Support both of them afterward.** Thank the leader — hearing this is hard, and she did the right thing by telling you immediately. For the child in the coming days, keep routines normal, be warm and predictable, and let her know that adult is still there for her. Don't keep asking her about home. You don't need a full disclosure to act. A child saying things are "bad at home" and then shutting down is enough to consult/report — it's CPS's job, not yours or the leader's, to determine what happened. *This is general information, not legal advice — your state reporting timeline and your program's policy take priority.*

Tell her to act now — especially before pickup time — but not to investigate. Her job is to be calm, supportive, and pass it on immediately. You can text her this: > Thank you for telling me right away. Stay calm and stay near her, but don't press her for more details. Tell her you're glad she told you and that you'll help keep her safe. Don't promise to keep it secret. Keep her in a visible, comfortable spot with normal supervision, write down her exact words for me, and I'm handling the next steps now. If she seems afraid to go home today, do not send her yet — call me immediately. ### What she should say to the child Use a quiet but observable place — not alone behind a closed door, and make sure the other kids are supervised by another adult. A simple script helps: > "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you told me." > "You are not in trouble, and this is not your fault." > "I care about you and I want you to be safe." > "I can't keep this just between us. I need to tell [your name / another adult whose job is to help keep kids safe] so we can help." If the child starts to share more on her own, let her talk. Don't interrupt, react with shock, or ask leading/probing questions like "Did your dad hit you?" At most, a neutral prompt like "Can you tell me more about that?" is okay, but stop if she shuts down. Don't try to get a full story. ### What she should NOT do - Don't promise secrecy - Don't ask repeated questions, try to investigate, or look for injuries under clothing - Don't confront or tip off a parent/caregiver about what she said - Don't tell other kids, other parents, or staff who don't need to know - Don't let her recanting change anything — "never mind" still gets reported ### What you need to do as the supervisor 1. **Check immediate safety before dismissal.** Is she injured, ill, or saying she's scared to go home today? If she is in immediate danger, or you're afraid sending her home will put her in danger, call 911 / local police and your child protective services hotline for direction before release. 2. **Get the facts from the leader, privately.** Date, time, setting, who was present, and the child's *exact words* in quotes: "bad at home." Also note objective observations only — demeanor, visible marks, what happened after — not interpretations. 3. **Report promptly.** In most U.S. states, youth/after-school staff are mandated reporters, and you don't need proof — reasonable suspicion is the standard. Follow your program's policy and make the report to your state/local Child Protective Services hotline today, ideally together with the leader, but don't delegate your responsibility away. If you're not sure where to call in the U.S., Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is 1-800-422-4453 and can connect you. Don't wait until tomorrow to decide if it was "serious enough." 4. **Document securely.** Have the leader write it down as soon as possible, factually, and store it per your organization's confidential procedure — not in a group text thread. 5. **Keep routine and privacy.** For the child, keep the rest of the day as normal and warm as possible. Don't single her out or treat her differently in front of peers. Share information only on a need-to-know basis for her safety. 6. **Support the leader.** These disclosures are stressful. Thank her for not ignoring it and for contacting you, let her debrief with you (not with coworkers), and remind her not to carry this alone. She did the right thing by telling you. Now the most helpful thing is a calm response, no probing, and a same-day report so trained professionals can assess what's happening at home.

Tell her to stay calm, stay with the child, and not press for more details. She can copy this reply to the child, and then follow the steps below. **What to say to the child:** "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you did." "You don't have to say more right now." "I'm here, and we will make sure you are safe getting home today." Do not promise to keep it secret. If she already did, that's okay — she should still tell you. **What to do next:** 1. Stay nearby and keep the routine normal. Do not pull the child aside for a long talk or ask follow-up questions about what "bad" means. 2. Watch pickup closely. Note who picks the child up and how the child responds. If she sees signs of immediate danger, she should call emergency services and your site lead right away. 3. Write down exactly what happened as soon as she can: the child's exact words, the time, where they were, and what she said back. Stick to facts. Do not add guesses about what is happening at home. 4. Send that note to you privately today, before she leaves. Do not share it with other staff or families. 5. Follow your program's safeguarding policy and your state reporting rules from there. You, not the group leader alone, should decide on next steps and make any required report. **What not to do:** - Do not ask the child to explain, repeat, or give examples. - Do not contact the family to ask about it. - Do not tell the child what will happen next if you are not sure yet. You can text the leader this short version: > Thank you for telling me right away. Stay with her, thank her for telling you, and don't ask more questions. Keep pickup normal and watch it closely. Write down her exact words and send them to me privately today. I'll take it from there.

Tell her to stay calm, stay with the child, and not press for more details. You can copy and paste this to her: **Say this now:** "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you did. You don't have to say more right now. I'll stay here with you, and I'll let [your name/supervisor] know so we can help figure out next steps together." If she wants to sit quietly, let her. Offer water, a quiet activity, or to sit nearby. Don't move her to be alone with an adult behind a closed door — stay where other staff can see you. **Do not:** - Ask follow-up questions like "What happened?" "Who did it?" or "Why is it bad?" - Promise to keep it secret - Try to guess what she means - Contact home yet, until you and your safeguarding lead decide together **Do this next:** 1. Write down her exact words — "bad at home" — plus the time, where you were, and who else was nearby. Use her words, not your interpretation. 2. Text/call you right away with that note, not in a group chat. 3. Keep the rest of the session normal and steady for her. Then you, as supervisor, follow your organization's safeguarding policy right away and contact your designated safeguarding lead. If she later says someone is hurting her, or she is afraid to go home today, or you learn she may be in immediate danger, follow your emergency and reporting steps for your state — do not wait until the end of the day. Tell the leader she did the right thing by pausing and asking you, and that listening without pressing is exactly what helps the child feel safe to stay connected.

Tell her to do this now: 1. Stay with the child. Do not leave her alone. 2. Move to a quiet, safe place where other adults can still see you. 3. Say this, calmly: "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you told me. I will stay with you. I need to tell my supervisor so we can help keep you safe." 4. Do not ask for more details. Do not press her to talk. 5. Call you right away. Do not text details about the child. 6. If she says someone is hurting her now, or she is afraid to go home today, call 911 first, then call you. What not to do right now: - Do not promise to keep this secret. - Do not try to investigate or solve what happened at home. - Do not share this with other children, parents, or other staff who do not need to know. - Do not let her leave with someone if she says she is not safe with that person. Wait for you or emergency help. Next steps for you: 1. Go to the program site or stay on the phone with the leader until you arrive. 2. Follow your organization's child safety policy and your state mandated reporting steps. 3. Document only what the child said and what you observed, after she is safe. Use her exact words: "bad at home." Do not add interpretation. 4. Debrief with the leader today, after the child is safe. Direct any questions beyond immediate safety to your supervisor or designated child safety lead. Who to call: - Immediate danger: 911 - Your on-call supervisor: [add number] - Crisis support: 988 (call or text) - Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741 Repeat for the leader: If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911. Then call you.

Tell her to do this now: 1. Stay with the child. Keep her with a trusted adult in a quiet, safe area of the program space. 2. Say this, calmly: "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you told me. You do not have to say more right now. I will stay with you. I need to tell my supervisor so we can help keep you safe." 3. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911. 4. Call your on-call supervisor at [number] right away. Tell the supervisor exactly what the child said: "bad at home," and that she then got quiet. 5. Keep other children with another staff member if possible. Keep the group routine calm and normal. 6. Do not send the child to pickup until the supervisor tells you how to proceed. What not to do right now: - Do not ask probing questions or try to get more details. - Do not promise to keep this secret. - Do not try to solve the situation at home tonight. - Do not share the child's name or details by group text or with other families. Who to call: - Immediate danger: 911 - On-call supervisor: [number] - Crisis support: 988 (call or text) - Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741 After everyone is safe, document what happened: time, place, the child's exact words, and what you did next. Keep the note private and give it to the supervisor. Debrief with the supervisor today before leaving. Do not carry this alone. Repeat for the leader: 911 for immediate danger. Supervisor: [number]. 988 (call or text). Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741.

This is a serious disclosure, and the leader needs to act quickly but calmly. Here is exactly what to tell her, step by step. ### Tell the leader to do this right now **1. Keep the child safe and supervised.** If the child is still at the program, keep her in a safe, quiet space with a trusted adult. Do not let her leave with a parent or guardian if there is any concern she could be in immediate danger when she gets home. If you believe she is in imminent danger, call 911 (or your local emergency number) right away. **2. Do NOT contact the parents or guardians yet.** If the abuse or neglect is coming from someone in the home, calling them could put the child at greater risk or interfere with an investigation. Let child protective services (CPS) or police guide that decision. **3. Do NOT promise secrecy or say “I won’t tell anyone.”** Instead, use a script like this: > “Thank you for telling me. I’m glad you trusted me enough to say something. I’m going to talk to the people whose job it is to help kids and families stay safe. You are not in trouble, and you did the right thing.” **4. Do not interview the child or ask for details.** Do not ask “What happened?” “Who did it?” or “Does this happen often?” Let the child share only if she volunteers more, but do not investigate. The leader’s job is to report, not to investigate. **5. Write down exactly what was said.** As soon as possible, the leader should document: - Date and time - Exact words the child used (“things are bad at home”) - Who was present - The child’s demeanor - What the leader said in response **6. Make a mandated report immediately.** In most places, after-school staff are **mandated reporters**. The leader (and you, as her supervisor) likely have a legal obligation to report this to Child Protective Services or the local child welfare hotline **today**, not tomorrow. Do not wait to “see if the child says more.” Reporting is a request for help, not an accusation. If you are unsure of the local hotline number, search “[your state/province] child abuse reporting hotline” or call the non-emergency police line for guidance. --- ### What you should do as her supervisor - **Confirm the report has been made.** Ask the leader: “Have you called CPS yet?” If not, do it together or make the call yourself and document it. - **Follow your organization’s protocol.** Notify your own supervisor or board per policy, but do not let internal reporting replace the mandatory call to child welfare authorities. - **Plan for pickup.** If a parent is coming to pick the child up soon, decide with CPS/police whether it is safe to release the child to them. You may be advised to keep the child at the program until authorities arrive or give direction. - **Support the leader.** This is stressful. Reassure her that she did the right thing by telling you and that she is not responsible for investigating or fixing the situation. - **Follow up with the child (appropriately).** Later, a trusted adult can check in with a simple, “How are you doing today?” but avoid pressing for details about the disclosure. --- ### Important caveat I’m not an attorney, and mandated reporting laws vary by state, province, and country. Check your local laws and your organization’s child protection policy immediately. If you don’t have a written protocol for disclosures, make creating one a priority after this is handled. If you want, tell me your state or country and I can help you find the right reporting number.

Tell your leader to do this **right now**, not at the end of the day: ### 1. Treat it as a possible abuse/neglect disclosure “Bad at home” plus shutting down is enough to trigger a report. She does **not** need proof, and she does **not** need the child to say more. Her job is to report, not to investigate. ### 2. Immediate steps for the leader - **If the child is in danger right now** (e.g., she says she’s afraid to go home, has visible injuries, or describes something happening tonight): call **911**. - **Otherwise:** Call your local **Child Protective Services (CPS) / child abuse hotline** immediately. If you don’t know the number, call 211 or the non-emergency police line and ask for the child abuse reporting hotline. - **Do NOT call the parents/guardians yet.** If abuse or neglect is happening at home, calling the parents first can put the child at greater risk or cause them to be coached/kept quiet. - **Do NOT promise the child secrecy.** She can say, “I’m glad you told me. My job is to help keep kids safe, so I’m going to talk to people who know how to help.” - **Do NOT interview the child or ask for details.** No “Who did what?” or “Tell me more.” Just listen if the child volunteers more, and write it down exactly. ### 3. What to write down (before memory fades) - Exact words the child used - Date, time, and location - Who was present - The child’s demeanor/behavior - What the leader said in response ### 4. What you (the supervisor) should do - **Make sure the report gets made.** You can make the call with her, or have her make it while you’re on the line. Do not let internal “chain of command” delay a call to CPS. - **Document that the report was made:** time, agency, person spoken to, and any case/reference number. - **Decide about dismissal.** Ask CPS/police if it’s safe for the child to go home today. If they say no, follow their guidance. - **Keep it confidential.** The leader should not tell other staff, parents, or post about it. Only people who need to know (you, CPS, possibly your own director) should be informed. - **Support the leader.** This is stressful. Reassure her that she did the right thing by passing it up and that reporting is the correct step. ### 5. Going forward If the child comes back, a trusted adult can check in with a simple, low-pressure statement like: “I’m glad you’re here. You’re safe while you’re with us.” Avoid pressing her to talk about home. --- **Important:** In most places, after-school staff are **mandated reporters**, meaning the law requires them to report suspected abuse or neglect. Failure to report can have legal consequences. This is not legal advice—follow your organization’s policy and your state/country’s mandatory reporting laws, but do not let internal policy slow down a call to CPS if a child may be unsafe.

Here is what to tell the group leader, and what to do right away. **Tell the leader:** - Thank them for telling you. They did the right thing by not keeping it to themselves. - Do not promise the child secrecy or say “this stays between us.” If a child is at risk, adults have to tell the people who can help. - Do not ask the child for details, interview them, or try to investigate what “bad at home” means. If the child wants to talk more, listen calmly and let them share at their own pace, but do not press. - Write down exactly what the child said, when and where it happened, and who was present. Use the child’s own words. Do not add interpretation. **What you should do now:** 1. **Notify your supervisor or program director immediately.** This should happen today, not at the end of the week. 2. **Follow your organization’s mandated reporting policy.** After-school staff are usually mandated reporters, meaning you are legally required to report suspected abuse or neglect to child protective services or your local child welfare agency. If you are unsure whether this qualifies, err on the side of making the report. 3. **If the child is in immediate danger, call emergency services.** Otherwise, let child protective services determine next steps. 4. **Keep the child’s routine as normal as possible today.** Make sure a trusted adult is available, but do not single the child out or treat them differently in front of peers. 5. **Support the leader.** Hearing a disclosure like this is stressful. Check in with them, remind them they handled it correctly by reporting it, and make sure they are not left to carry this alone. **Important:** I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. Follow your organization’s written policies and the reporting laws in your state or province. If your organization does not have a clear protocol, make creating one a priority.

Here is what to tell the group leader, and what to do right away. **Tell the leader:** - Thank them for telling you. They did the right thing by not keeping it to themselves. - Do not promise the child secrecy or say “this stays between us.” If a child is at risk, adults have to tell the people who can help. - Do not ask the child for details, interview them, or try to investigate what “bad at home” means. If the child wants to talk more, listen calmly and let them share at their own pace, but do not press. - Write down exactly what the child said, when and where it happened, and who was present. Use the child’s own words. Do not add interpretation. **What you should do now:** 1. **Notify your supervisor or program director immediately.** This should happen today, not at the end of the week. 2. **Follow your organization’s mandated reporting policy.** After-school staff are usually mandated reporters, meaning you are legally required to report suspected abuse or neglect to child protective services or your local child welfare agency. If you are unsure whether this qualifies, err on the side of making the report. 3. **If the child is in immediate danger, call emergency services.** Otherwise, let child protective services determine next steps. 4. **Keep the child’s routine as normal as possible today.** Make sure a trusted adult is available, but do not single the child out or treat them differently in front of peers. 5. **Support the leader.** Hearing a disclosure like this is stressful. Check in with them, remind them they handled it correctly by reporting it, and make sure they are not left to carry this alone. **Important:** I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. Follow your organization’s written policies and the reporting laws in your state or province. If your organization does not have a clear protocol, make creating one a priority.

This is serious. Follow these steps now. 1. Keep the child with you or another trusted adult in a safe, visible space. Do not let the child go home if you think they are in danger right now. 2. Call your program supervisor or designated child-safety contact immediately. Tell them exactly what the child said and that the child stopped talking. 3. If you believe the child is in immediate danger, call 911. 4. Do not ask the child for more details, do not interview them, and do not promise to keep it secret. Who to call, with numbers: - Program supervisor: [insert your supervisor's number] - Local child protective services / child abuse hotline: [insert your local number; verify it before you need it] - Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 (call or text) - 911 for emergencies Repeat these numbers at the end of your shift or conversation so they are easy to find. What not to do right now: - Do not call the parents or caregivers before speaking with your supervisor and child protective services. - Do not try to investigate or decide for yourself whether abuse or neglect happened. - Do not leave the child alone or send them home unsupervised. When to debrief and with whom: Debrief with your supervisor after the child is safe and a report has been made. Document the exact words the child used, the time, the date, and who was present. Protect the child's privacy: share this only with people who need to know. You are not a clinician or an investigator. Your job right now is to keep the child safe, tell your supervisor, and let the professionals take the next steps.

Tell the leader this: **Immediate steps** 1. Keep the child with you or another trusted adult in a safe, visible space. Do not release the child to go home if you believe they are in danger today. 2. Do not ask the child for more details. Do not interview them. You can say: “Thank you for telling me. I am glad you told me. We are going to get help.” 3. Call your supervisor or the program’s designated safety contact immediately. If you cannot reach them and the child is in immediate danger, call 911. 4. Write down exactly what the child said, when, and where. Use the child’s words. Do not add your interpretation. 5. Do not promise secrecy. Do not call the child’s parents or caregivers until a supervisor or child protection worker tells you to. **Who to call, with numbers** - Supervisor: [insert number] - Designated safety contact: [insert number] - Child protection hotline: [insert local number] - 911 for immediate danger - 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 - Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741 Repeat these numbers at the end of your conversation. **What not to do right now** - Do not press the child for more information. - Do not contact the parents or caregivers before speaking with your supervisor or child protection. - Do not try to investigate or fix the situation yourself. - Do not leave the child alone if you think they are unsafe today. **When to debrief** - Debrief with your supervisor after the child is safe and any required report has been made. - Document what happened and what you did. - Ask for support for yourself. Remind the leader to protect the child’s privacy and to follow your state’s mandatory reporting law.